Tiger Barb Got Stuck To Filter Intake :(

I got given a Tiger Barb on its own in a 10gal tank yesterday, so I went and got some more today, so that he has a little shoal

He doesn't seem to be bothering them (which I was worried about because they're a lot smaller than him) - they were swimming around together when they first went in.

But I went in to see them just before and the smallest one was stuck to the filter intake

I helped him off of it with my net, but he was swimming weird (short burts of swimming and then drifting without moving, sometimes sideways) and got restuck to the filter 2 more times

I put him in the net and floated it on the top, so he could have a little rest without getting stuck again ... but now I don't know what to do with him or how to stop him from getting stuck again

Help ! ♡

Okay, so I literally just went back to check after posting this ... and now hes not moving at all

My partner said he thought he saw his mouth open and maybe his eye move, but he hasn't wiggled at all .. we let him out of the net for like 2 seconds, and he drifted upside down straight for the filter intake so I scooped him back into the net

I think he might die

 

What kind of filter do you have? You could use a prefilter sponge to prevent that from happening again.

 

He/she was sick to begin with. A healthy fish won't be taken by a filter. Unfortunate the fish is on its way out. Not much you can do.

 

What kind of filter do you have? You could use a prefilter sponge to prevent that from happening again.

(Sorry if any terms are wrong - I'm new !)
It's a corner filter built into the lid of the tank

I read that online when I googled it, but most people saying that were preventing fish from being sucked INTO the filter, he just got sucked ~against~ it

Does it make them not get sucked toward it at all ?
Or just not get stuck or eaten by it ?

He/she was sick to begin with. A healthy fish won't be taken by a filter. Unfortunate the fish is on its way out. Not much you can do.

I was thinking that
He was literally in there for, like, 5 hours !
And they all looked fine at the store

Ugh
I can easily replace him, but its still sad

 

Before you get more fish, do you about the nitrogen cycle?

 

Before you get more fish, do you about the nitrogen cycle?

Mmmm
Somewhat.
The lady at the fish store was really good - explaining to us about leaving most of his water in there to keep the beneficial microbes and stuff

And I read a bit online too

What are you thinking could be happening ?

 

Nitrogen cycle

 

Mmmm
Somewhat.
The lady at the fish store was really good - explaining to us about leaving most of his water in there to keep the beneficial microbes and stuff

And I read a bit online too

What are you thinking could be happening ?

Well the bacteria that helps cycle an aquarium does not live the water, so keeping the water in there is more harmful than helpful.

I highly suggest you get an API freshwater master test kit. You can use it to monitor your ph, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels.

Fish produce ammonia, but its highly toxic to them, which is why have a cycled tank is extremely important.

 

Definitely read the link provided to you

 

Nitrogen cycle

Its not a new tank
He had been in it for 6 months or so, at his old house, with some other tank mates

His old owner then got a larger aquarium, and didn't want him anymore.
So he gave me his whole setup and him, already established

We took about a third of his water out to transport him, then went and asked what we should do

The lady at the store said to leave his old filter pad in to keep all the beneficial stuff, and top it up with tank water

It shouldn't need to cycle, right ?

 

10 gal is way too small for a decent school of tiger barbs. They will probably feel cramped and it will be hard to keep water quality up.
I have never had any fish getting sucked in the filter intake. I keep 8 Tiger Barbs in a 36 gal and they swim around the intake all of the time, no suctioned fish so far.
You can add a sponge to the intake just to be sure.