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I've been using a python for months, and read every thread I could find about them before I got one. I never heard of this happening, and I didn't think that it sucked hard enough, but today during a water change, my python sucked up one of my female bettas.

I was actually at the sink adjusting the temp for the refill, when I saw her fly by in the hose. I couldn't believe it was a fish. But I took it apart, and sure enough, there was a betta at the end of the syphon. She was totally beat up, and certainly dieing, but not dead yet.

I couldn't believe it, I feel so bad about this. I admit I hadn't actually seen this fish today before this happened, and it is possible something was already wrong with her that made her weak so she couldn't swim away. But she was fine yesterday.

I just want to make sure EVERYBODY knows that this CAN happen! I put a net over the end before continuing, and I suggest you all do the same.

I feel terrible, but lets all learn from my mistake so this doesn't happen to anybody else.

-Dennis

sorry for your loss.

bettas are just too bloody inquisitive! almost everything else stays away from the suction, although i've seen my corys get very close too. but IMO bettas just can't keep out of trouble.

there was probably something wrong.

for fun, i put the gravel vac over my corys, and nothing really happens.. even my WCMM fry that arent even 1/2" yet dont get sucked up into the vac.

ALso, ALWAYS take the vac out of the tank when you go and adjust the temp, or just have 2 people do it.

I dont take the vac out, because i take enough water out of my 55g to just leave it in there without sucking water up.

be lucky it didn't shred it.. i used to shred dead feeders that i sucked up.. the water was clear, then ran orange for a second, then cleared up...

Wow! So sorry to hear about your loss. It is not the first time I have heard about this happening though.

"for fun, i put the gravel vac over my corys, and nothing really happens"

For fun? What would you have done if it had sucked them up quicker than you could have pulled it out and broke the suction? Poor cories!

Last edited by Stormy5 at 15-Apr-2005 16:59

That's awful beefshank. It is probably why I don't use my python on my smaller tank and just do it the old fashioned ways. It's rough to go up a tube on any siphon, but at least the shorter trip through the simple one is easier.

Has the fish died? Did you euthanize or is it still alive. If it is still alive, get it into some water with salt (1 Tbsp/5 gal) freshwater aquarium salt predissolved. This will help with electrolyte restoration and prevent osmotic shock. Any openings in the skin or gills allow for electrolyte loss and ultimately osmotic shock. It is amazing what fish can recover from if given the chance.

Sorry about your betta.I lost 3 of my favoutrite male guppies to my AquaClear intake tube...it fell off!

R.I.P. fishies!

No Di, she died about 15 minutes after I got her out. Very sad.

-Dennis

Awww - R.I.P. sweet betta. :#(

I had the same thing happen with a betta and a normal syphon, had to euthanase.

I use gauze over the intake tube now, much safer.

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I like to think that whoever designed marine life was thinking of it as basically an entertainment medium. That would explain some of the things down there, some of the unearthly biological contraptions

This can happen on a regular syphon. The python's suction is adjustable (just adjust how fast your faucent water is running).

And when you're adjusting the water for the return, you have to pull the python out and drain it, otherwise you'll get a false temperature because half of the water coming out will be heated tank water, and the other half will be tap water.

~Jorge

I am so sorry for your lossI know a member once loss a cory because her husband went to do a gravel vac for her and accidently cut one in half:#(...a loss of a fish is awful no matter how you look at it...:#(

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

when i gravel vac, i hold the little flow thing, so if something does get sucked, i can turn it off.

ANyways, the corys couldnt even fit through the opening at the top of the tube.

I know a member once loss a cory because her husband went to do a gravel vac for her and accidently cut one in half

- I don't know if it's just me or what, but I do my gravel vacs every so gently. I push down to the glass, but when I move the thing, it is slow and watchful. I have seen the lfs personnel going at it like it is a side of beef, which is what I pictured when you said the catfish was cut in half with the tube. I don't think that much effort is needed.

I seen an lfs person taking gravel out of a tank to use in another tank and I wanted to shoot her. Instead of moving slowly on one side of the tank, she was moving so fast the fish were in a horrible panic with her every move. Several times I thought they were going to jump out. I don't understand why people can't empathize with the fear these critters experience when we work around the tank and try to work with a little more respect for them.

Is it just me or has anyone else noticed this kind of thing?

Last edited by Cory_Di at 18-Apr-2005 17:59

Last edited by Cory_Di at 18-Apr-2005 18:00

One time I was doing a gravel vac and put the end into one of the caves. The water suction stopped, and after tapping it a few times in the tank, I took it out to realize I had sucked up one of my tiger barbs was clogging it (face first). I turned off the suction and let him go, and he is fine (He was actually the Alpha in the tank before and still is).

It was actually pretty funny after the whole thing was over.

Last edited by just_one_more at 20-Apr-2005 14:29