Sorry I know this isnt about goldfish but its an emergency.

I just got a couple of new fish, little kuhli loaches.
One of them decided it would be fun to swim in front of the filter outlet and then go straight inside, like they do.. y'know. But the filter has the impellor right by the outlet bit, like in a little see through dome and I saw him swim in then just a bit orange and black blur as he got wizzed around with the impellor!!!! It's like he's been blendered!! I dived for the plug and stopped the filter, and he lay in there for a while and I thought he was dead. But he's moved and it just sat in there breathing now.
I've got no idea how to get him out!! That part of the filter is inaccessable.
He's got a load of skin missing from his back and stuff.. but I think he has a chance, as long as he doesnt die from shock.

He's still alive, he's breathing abnormally fast now.

OMG, how awful for that poor baby. Is there a way you could turn the unit over and dump him out? I really have no idea what to do. I hope somebody has better advice.

I cant tip him out or anything, its a wierd filter, I'll try find a pic of it online..
http://www.akvashop.sk/images/aquael1.jpg
Its that filter, you see the clear dome at the top, that holds the impellor, and hes in there

Oh no Lucy, that sounds horrible. I'm really not sure what to suggest. What kind of filter is it? Is it not possible to even access the impeller for cleaning purposes? If not, it sounds like your only option to get him out is to break the filter casing open, I'm not sure what else you can do Good luck Lucy

Just seen your picture now.

And you cant take the dome casing off from either the top or push it off through the bottom?

we posted at the same time Mr.B.
I cant break it, the chances are i'll end up killing him if i do that.. and I wont have a filter for that tank. I dont know.. maybe, but if he ends up dying anyway. I will have smashed up quite a good filter. euurgh I dont know..

I cant get to the bottom, or anything, its totaly stuck like that.

Just looking at your picture again.

If you pull that tubing out, how big is the hole in the top of the dome and can you make it bigger?

The venturi? that hole is teeny, like 1mm. I cant make it bigger or anything.

Oh dear, it's a tough one Lucy. Even if he died, you'd have to get him out of there somehow. Can you get a pic so we can see? Maybe if you shake it about a bit in the tank he might come out? Otherwise leave it a while to see if he makes a move on his own? Good luck Lucy

I just went up to check on him and couldnt see him in the dome, so i thought 'thank god he's got himself out' but nooo the stupid little guy has gone the other way, even further in! I took the filter apart as much at i could and i can just about see his little pink belly near the little hole going to the impellor.

Edit: i just took pics but camera batterys low, ill see if they upload

Pics.
see his belly in the hole?


one of where he was.

Oh well, I suppose it's good news in a way because it means he can move about. Hopefully he can move back out again if he wants to. Maybe give him some more time. He must be absolutely pertrified poor thing

OK, what if you took the whole thing apart as much as possible, put it in a plastic container with water, and put in some food, and maybe he will find his way out.

Just seen the pics.

I'm sure he must be able to get through that hole somehow? Maybe just float the filter casing on it's side at an angle to see if he'll swim out that way?

Its just hung in the tank as it is in the second pic now.. I figure thats the best place so if he comes out he can go join his buddy in the plants.
I would try and see if i could take more off the bottom, but thats where he is and i might hurt him if i pull it apart.

Sounds like a good plan Lucy, just give him time and see what he does

Never heard of those filters Lucy. A bad design flaw indeed.

As for the fish he may well die inside so your filter wouldnt be of any use any way. I would leave it for the night and hopefully tomorrow he will be out. If not then you are going to have to break the filter open to see if he is alive or dead.

I think he's moved closer to the hole, I can see more of him. i'll leave him and give him a prod on a while. If he died i'd just be able to hook him out, no need to break the filter.

get twesers and grab the fish and pull him out

You dont want to grab him if hes alive as hes probably badly injured and you dont want to make it worse. Just leave well alone and he should be able to get out if he isnt too mushed in there.

HE'S ALIVE!
I just went up and wiggled the filter and he came flying out. He totaly spazzed out for a while going round and round in circles, I think he was trying to bury himself in the gravel (im changing to sand soon).
He's now sat getting his breath back. One side of him has been scratched off and he has some sort of wound on the side of his head.. im going to get him straight into a hospital tank. He doesnt actually look TOO bad..
what should I treat with? just perfect water. or add a little melafix? cant do salt can i?

Edit: pics



You can see by his dorsal fin theres a bit of raw skin.. thats what the whole of the other side of his body looks like.

yaaaaaa he alive i don't know realy what to do but yaaaa he is alive

(forgot to add, i guess this can be moved to the tropical fish bit now )

I spoke too soon, I hadnt seen the other side of his head. Its all smashed up. He's in QT now, but he's swimming in spirals then lying on the bottom motionless.
I dont think theres anything I can do..
I dont have any clove oil, so I guess I'll have to do it the hard way

aww no lucy, that's too bad for the little guy, so sorry.

Leave him overnight in quarantine with a cave to hide in and see if he makes it through the night. Fish can recover from seemingly disastrous adventures so give him time.
Dont use salt as he is scaleless.

Ok, got there just in time Sands I was just about to go up and do it, but checked back here first

I hope he makes it OK. Such a pretty guy.

I'm so glad you got him out Lucy

I agree with Sandy, let him rest overnight and see how far he recovers, then you can make a judgment in the morning about what the best thing for him is.

He may well fully recover, I would go with just good water for now and see how you get on. What an evening, eh Lucy?!

Yeah, seriously, you'd be suprised at what they can survive. Kuhlis are similar to dojos. Koko had one that did the same thing....... got himself into a filter and got chewed up by the impellar. Hers is still alive today.

Oh no Lucy - this is so sad but he may just make it, i'm hoping he does.

Maybe a bit of time and excellent water is all he needs

How is the little fella now?

That's the first thing I thought about when I got up this morning. I hope the little guy is OK and makes it.

aww thanks guys but he didnt make the night His little head was pretty bad.. and he's sooo small, like 1inch. I think if he hadn't been a baby, and hadnt come home from the shop just an hour before, he may have had a better chance.
I've covered the outlet securely with a piece of tights. So the other little guy cant do the same thing. The inlet bits of the filter are much to small (and clogged with gravel) for him to get in that way.

I'm sorry he didn't make it Lucy

I'm so sorry to hear that, Lucy. You did all you could. RIP, little man...

Oh dear, I'm so sorry to hear he didn't make it You really did do everything you could to help him Lucy

I'm so sorry Lucy

oh Luce im so sorry you lost him

Thanks guys

Awww lucy, I'm so sorry also

poor little fishie rest in peace

I am so sorry you lost your baby Lucy. Is there a way you could put a little piece of clean nylon hose over the opening to keep another of your fish from being sucked up?

I just now saw this, I'm sorry Lucy

Bettaqueen, Lucy already put a peice of tights over the hole.

Thanks
Yea, the other one is doing just fine He needs a friend though, I'm getting another ASAP.

that is good you covered up the hole. Yes get a new buddy for your fish. I had a fish die and the other one was lonely afterwards and kept swimming over to where the other one died looking for him. So he would probably love the company

Im so sorry hes gone Lucy.