You won't believe what I found in my filter today!!!!

Around 2 months ago, I gave my LFS roughly 75 Polar Blue Parrot Cichlids that I raised from eggs. I wanted to have a happy community tank instead of an aggressive cichlid one. So, I literally emptied the tank. Talking down to an inch of water and no decorations. Went and picked out all new fish and they've been swimming around happily for 2 months now. Today while cleaning out one of my HOB filters (I have two AquaClear 110's), I figured I'd give it a thorough cleaning and clean not only the filter media in the basket, but the area underneath the basket as well. I can't see what I'm doing because of how my tank's positioned, but I'm using my hand to scoop out any debris that I can feel. When something slimy grazes my hand. It creeped me out so much that I got my cell phone out to use the camera to guide me and show me what I'm feeling. Guys....it was a freaking fish!!!! Alive and thriving in the half inch section of water that sits below the filter media basket!!!!! One of the babies somehow made it into the filter and has been hanging out there for at least 2 months now! What kind of sorcery?!?!?!

 

How in the world!

 

How in the world!

I have no idea!!!! I'm still in shock over it. But I've decided that the little lady deserves to stick around in the actual tank for a while!

 

I have no idea!!!! I'm still in shock over it. But I've decided that the little lady deserves to stick around in the actual tank for a while!

Yeah 100%! That's so cool haha

 

How fun!
I agree, she definitely deserves to stay!

 

Hah ! She’s a fighter for sure , little cutie. She deserves a good meal after growing up in isolation !

 

Wow, that’s an incredible story. Super happy she didn’t die and cause spikes in your tank.
A friend of mine had a fish jump out the tank through the filter cut out into a bucket he used to vacuum a small amount of poop during water change. So he didn’t empty the bucket very often and the fish ended up surviving 3 1/2 months in a bucket that slowly got filled with water.
The fish ended up being a large blue Gourami. A labyrinth fish.
he said the bucket happen to be next to the floor wall heater and it was winter time and he thinks that’s how it managed to survive.

 

Amazing, I've found a few shrimp in my canister, but never a fish.

 

It's unbelievable after posting in this thread, I just did a bit monthly clean of my nautalis 1100 canister filter and found 5 platy fry inside.
They must have been there nearly 2 week's because I put a sponge over the intake about that long ago. Bit of a coincidence, but they're all doing fine in the grow out tank now.