URGENT - FISH MAY BE DIEING!!!!!!!!!!!!! HELP!!!!!!! PLZ!

help! my fish got sucked up into my filter and I think he may be dying.  I really need some on to help me quick!!   I left the house  for an xmas party and when we got back I could find happy chef and then my mom came to help me find him and he was swimming in the tiny filter area with all the bubbles!!!    he was swimming in this little tiny area for who knows how long  :'( I really need someone to write back right away! please - can my fish live without the air pump filter?   pelase help  ??? :-[ :-\

 

First of all, the fish are way overcrowded and I do think that you have an airstone, but I doubt that it is a "filter". Since I do not know what type of tank you have it is a little difficult to know what area you are talking about.

Was the fish hurt? (fins torn or sores on the body) Is it swimming okay now that it is out of the area where it was "trapped"? If it is swimming okay and will eat for you, then just keep an eye on it for a day or so and be sure to put a thin stocking or something over the entry to the "filter" area to keep them from being pulled into it. Even a little bit of filter material will do to shut the holes up. Is there any way that you can post a picture of your tank so we know what we are working with here?

Rose

 

well hes not eating and he is only swimming if he gets scared other wise he just lays at the bottm . I don't see any cuts or ripped fins but then again he is covered in filth
thnx for writing back and yeah I agree they are very over crowded! thnx Miley :-\ :-[

 

also can fish live without the air filter? cause I am scared they may become sucked into it - I WILL put somethig over it though to be safe! thnx Miley

 

Where is he getting the filth from?  When do you change the tanks water and clean the tank and how do you do it?  Is there an Undergravel Filter in that tank?  (a place under the gravel that is supposed to be where the filtered stuff and debris goes)  They are not any good and only make the dirt in the tank settle to the bottom.  You need to do a good water change if it is that dirty and just do the filtration by doing water changes until you can get a new tank.

Rose

 

Yes they can live in this tank without the air running. But they are going to need clean water and good water changes every other day at least. What else is in the tank, (gravel, decorations, plants, rocks)? What do you use in the water to remove the chlorine?

Rose

 

ok so don't use the tank filter thing? it is like an air filter not really and tank cleaner thingy. my sisters betta lives without one but he has a labrinth thingy. my fish got the filth from up in the filter it like cleans the water(supposibly) and puts air into the water. will my fish be ok with that being off then - will they get enough oxygen from just the normal non filter air thingy water? also the fish that got sucked up kinda twitches now. for decoration I have about this hight of gravel --------------- and a hidout where the fish can go in and hide and I have two fake plants but currently one of them is not in the tank. so thnx Miley also I use Tetra Betta Safe to declorinate the tank - on the back it says " can be used for all ornimental fish, not just bettas " and my neons seem to be fine. is this fine? Miley

 

I really do not know what all these "thingys" are that you are talking about. Is there some way that you can run the airstone and just cover that area so the fish will not get into it? That would be the best. I am afraid that fish is hurt but I do not know what to tell you to do for him as I doubt that you have a quarantine tank to put him into. Just make sure the water is clean and dechlorinated. Yes the Betta product is fine for all fish. Just so you are using something to treat the water to remove the chlorine. It is more expensive and does not go as far as other products but it does work.

Rose

 

fist - the "thingys" are me attempting to explain the air fliter - which I am not sure if it put oxygen back into the tank or cleans it? I am pretty sure its suppose to do both but I don't know for sure. second, Good ! I was worried that that may not be safe though they seem fine with it. also I am sure Happy Chef is fine - even though he was sucked into it 2 times! - but I am sure hes goo cause he is trying to swim but takes a rest alot. hes just so small. I worry about him. thnx Miles

 

You do not have a "cycled" tank and you may be having a problem with the ammonia in the water getting too strong for them. Because they do not have a tank that has been completely cycled, you are going to have to do many more water changes to keep them healthy. I am talking like about half of the water every other day. Otherwise the fish will die because their own wastes are poisoning them. This goes for the betta too if he is not in a heated, filtered, cycled tank.

Here is an article about the Nitrogen Cycle for you to read that will explain what we are talking about when we talk about a cycled tank. It is too late for you to do the Fishless Cycle but when a chance comes along for you to do a new tank I would recommend it as it is much nicer to the fish. Fish that have to cycle tanks for themselves do not live as long.

https://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

Rose

 

thank you so much - that's very helpful!! also sad to say - Happy Chef did die last night while I was asleep. :'( Skittles is alright thoguh. :'(but thank you so much again for being so helpful to me!!!!!!!!! Miley

 

I am so sorry that Happy Chef died. He most likely got injured when he was sucked into the filter, so there wasn't much you could do for him. You could try putting cheese cloth over the filter and securing it with a rubber band to keep Skittles from getting sucked in. It is available in any store that sells fabric and is not expensive. Tetras need to have heat in their tank, so if at all possible get him a bigger tank, at least 3 gallons and a heater for it. A 25 watt heater for any tank under 5 gallons.

CherryRose

CherryRose

 

yeah - at least Skits ( Skittles nick name) is ok. I am planning on getting a bigger tank - is $42 enough to get a 5 gal? or does it depend on the store? I am more than sure he was injured cause he was swimming funny - I think the little fins on the sides of his body where ripped off. is cheese clothe like mesh or? thnx for your advice! Miley

 

I am glad that Skits is okay.  Yes,  PLEASE use your money to get a 5 gallon tank.  It should be enough at stores like Walmart.  After mentioning cheese cloth, I got to thinking that its mesh might be so small that even things that you wanted filtered out of your water couldn't go through.  I'm sure that some other netting might be even better.  They sell other netting materials at the fabric stores. Even the netting from an old fish net (sterilized of course) could be used to keep fish from going into the filter.  I hope things work out for you to get the bigger tank soon.

CherryRose

 

thnx. I am gonig to eventually here soon. its funny cause Skits is too big to fit through( hes sort of fat ;D ) so he can't get sucked into it but Happy Chef was teeny tiny, so he fit. but I still wanna get something over it. and would a five gal. be ok for a neon and a danio? then... do neons and danios go good together? thnx Miley. 8) lol

 

I am so sorry that Happy Chef died. I guess he was just too hurt to make it. I am glad to hear that Skits is too big to be bothered by the intake of the air tube. Otherwise the gauze does sound like a good idea and is easily changed when you do a water change. Just put a rubber band around the tube to hold it in place.

Yes a neon and a danio could go into a 5 gallon but the neons like to be with their own kind.  You can have one of each however. 

A 5 gallon Hex aquarium at Walmart that includes all you need but the heater (25 or 50 watt) and the gravel (5 pounds) will cost $29.95 and the gravel will be about $3.00.  To get a really good heater that has a lifetime warranty, you can get one for $17.00 or so but you can get one with less gaurantee for less money.  Just get one that is submersible and lets you adjust the temperature to a certain degree not just HIGH or LOW or that is pre-set.  Then you should get a different water conditioner that will go further than the Betta conditioner that you use now.  You need to use something like StressCoat while you are cycling your tank as some of the others will interfere with the cycle process.  (like Amquel, Amquel+, and Prime)


Rose

 

kool also - could a chinese algae eater go good with my neon? Miley

 

First of all, the neon tetra is very lonely by himself.  He needs other neon tetras in with him in order to be happy.  Second, I don't think a chinese algae eater is a good idea.  If you look at the top of the page it has a box which says "freshwater fish profiles".  If you click on it and select Chinese algae eater you will find out why I say so.  If you want an algae eater the otocinclus would be a great choice.  Both the neon tetras and the otocinclus need to be in schools of at least 3 with 6 being the preferred number for neons.  Have you thought about getting a 10 gallon tank? Then you could have 6 neon tetras and 3 otos. There may be some 10 gallon tanks on sale right now.  I got one of mine at my local fish store for $49.99 after a 20% discount.  It came with a certificate for $10 worth of free fish, which made the tank with a hood, filter, and heater only cost $39.99.  There are a lot of sales right now, so you may be able to get a really good deal somewhere.

CherryRose

 

chickadee,
I am sad to say - Skits died I HAVE HORRIBLE FISH LUCK!! ever fish I have ever had dies! Miley

 

Miley

I am so sorry about your little one. I would ask you to do one thing before you consider replacing the fish. Why not take some time and do some research on fish and setting up tanks and the Nitrogen Cycle before you go spend more money on fish and things. This way hopefully when you try again you will know how to get a really good start.

You really need to have a tank that has a filter and heater to keep Tropical Fish. Bettas and Neons are all Tropical Fish and they need to be in a cycled tank. If you put Tropical Fish into an unheated, unfiltered, uncycled tank they will keep dying. The tank that you described to me, doesn't have a filter as I mean filter. I think it is an airstone that just pumps air into the tank.

I am truly sorry that you are having such a hard time with your fish, I do hope you have a better day tomorrow.

Rose

 

:'( I am so sorry that you lost Skits too.  I know that losing a fish you love is very hard.  I agree with Rose.  She gives very good advice.  I know she has helped me a lot.

CherryRose

 

thank you all!!! I will get all important equipment I need - I don't wanna lose any more fish. thnx Miley