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my green spotted puffers keep getting sucked into the side filter that i have, and i keep having to shut it off and let them out at least twice a day. one fish has died from this, and the others keep going, i dont know what to do.
please help

sounds mad but can you attach a filter sponge to the outside ofyour filter to cover the bit they get sucked in to?

or can you slow the filter down? so the suction is not so much?

explain what filter it is some one else may have a better idea?

GFG



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Anthonym

Either or both a photo and the make a model of the filter would help.

What ever you do you do not want to block the filter inlet.

If it is an open tube can you incert a small piece of what I call Gutter Guard. This is an open plastic mesh which keeps leaves out of Gutters/Spoutings. I used this for years to stop my Clown Loaches from entering my filtration system.

It is easy taken out and cleaned then replaced.

Keith

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Healthy fish should really not be sucked into the inlet of any commercial filter. The amount of current at the intake is small enough that unless they're really tiny fry or really weak from illness they should be able to swim away on their own without a problem. I have seen some fish/shrimp swim UP the intake tube of a filter on purpose looking for food and get stuck because they can't turn around but they should never just get sucked in.

As was posted above could you give us some more info about the filter? I would also appreciate more info about the tank itself and inhabitants to see if we can find out why these fish are weakened enough that they can't overcome a weak current like that.

Here are some questiosn for you - from the stickies as usual:

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA

Water Parameters
There are many things in a fish tank that can cause a fish to appear sick, when natural toxins or water chemistry are not just right.

Ammonia:
Nitrite (note the “I&#8221:
Nitrate (note the “A):
pH:
Temp:

If you do not have one or more of these, please take a bag of water to the fish store and ask them to test it for you. Most will do this for free. If not, try another store. Make sure you write them down so we can review the numbers with you.

Tank Information

Tank Size (gallons and dimensions if known (20 gal long versus regular 20 or 20 gal high):
Stock List (Quantity/Species):
Fish size for larger fish (a 5 inch angel or a 9 inch oscar has a different effect on water parameters than a half-dollar size angle or a 3 inch oscar).
Filtration (ex: Penguin 330, Whisper 40, Fluval 204, etc).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Additives
Tell us what you add to your tank or replacement water like conditioners to remove chlorine/chloramine, fertilizers for plants, aquarium salt, pH adjusters, etc. Describe for us how often you use and how much.

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR SICK FISH

Be as descriptive as you can and provide pics, if possible (see the post about how to add pictures at the top of the hospital forum).

We not only need detailed information about what you see ON the fish, we need to know about it’s behavior. This does not attempt to capture everything, but gives you some ideas on how to present what you are seeing. Don’t limit yourself to what is here.

Examples of some physical attributes
Pale, darker, grey fuzz/white fuzz/off-white fuzz, grey slimey film, blue haze, gold dusting, salt grains/spots, blood bordered white area, ulcer, pustule/boil, cloudy eyes, protruding eye, eroding fin, etc.

Examples of some behaviors
Lethargic, rapid breathing, sits on the bottom, hangs out at the top with head down (or head up), darting in a spiral fashion, swimming slowly without orientation, choking, flicking against objects in the tank or gravel

Thanks

the make of the filter is the Whisper power filter from tetra used for 5-15 gallon tanks 115 volts 60 hz

http://www.elmersaquarium.com/images/112whisper_Filter.jpg

it looks like this but the tube going down into the tank is black, and there is a mesh over it. and they ussually do swim away, but somtimes they get stuck, especially my smallest fish.

and if i do put a filter sock over it will it still be able to suck floating particals into it

Don't put a filter sock on it. Your fish would have to be really weak and stressed to get stuck in that filter as the current is very weak. Check your other thread, you did not answer any of my questions as requested to give you more help.

If your fish are getting stuck in a very small filter such as this one they are sick and dying. The filter is not your problem. I've used that filter personally and unless the fish have just been born in the last few weeks there is absolutely no way they should have a problem with the miniscule current it produces.

like goldfishgeek
try adding a sponge to the intake