Death by Gravel Vac?

[Tuffpaws]

I have a 25 Gallon tank, with 7 guppies (well, 6 now), and 6 otocinclus. 3 or 4 days ago during a water change, one of the guppies got caught up in the tube of the gravel vac, and wasn't strong enough to swim out of the current. We panicked for a moment, then lifted the Vacuum out of the water so it would flow back into the tank. Ever since then, the fish seemed OK, but a little "wonky." He seemed a little less social, and little less active. Then, 3 or 4 days later, he died.

Do you think he suffered internal injuries from the vacuum accident? I've only been fishkeeping for 3 months or so, and still learning.

 

[sixstringphil]

Is it possible that he was already sick/weak and that's the reason he got sucked up in the first place?

 

[Tuffpaws]

Is it possible that he was already sick/weak and that's the reason he got sucked up in the first place?

Well, he was definitely the smallest of my guppies (maybe 3/4 the size of the other males), but he did not appear sick to me prior to the incident.

While I would feel terrible if it's our fault the fish died, however, I hope that it is. That means the other fish aren't in danger.

 

[Lupin]

Even the "slightest" force for a small guppy is actually too much causing possible internal damage. Fish becomes severely stressed after being sucked by something and die afterwards. I accidentally sucked a panda corydoras until it reached the aspirator. It died an hour later.

 

[Tuffpaws]

Even the "slightest" force for a small guppy is actually too much causing possible internal damage. Fish becomes severely stressed after being sucked by something and die afterwards. I accidentally sucked a panda corydoras until it reached the aspirator. It died an hour later.

Thanks. I'm glad to hear that. Poor fish lasted a few days, hope he didn't suffer too much.

 

[krytan]

Sorry for your loss.
When i first got my ocsar he swam up my siphon, now every time i do a water change he goes to the back of the tank and plays dead.

 

[jaysen]

i have tons of one inch hi fin platies that are incredibly stupid. every time i do a water change they swim into the gravel vac but usually swim out. the other end of the tubing is attached to a magdrive pump to increase suction. 2 platies in the last week decided to follow the current and literally got diced into pieces. it sucks and is a waste of life but i see it as if it were the wild, they would have swam into the pikes mouth lol. survival of the fittest does include intelligence. dont worry about your fish. it happens to everyone.

 

[Rbishop]

Yep, it can easily happen even to a healthy fish. Try a smaller diameter tubing and hose, if it still cleans your tank well. Not time, just pinch off the hose quickly and it may prevent the issue from happening again.

 

[wataugachicken]

you know how tetra/whisper brand has those 'do it yourself' filter pads? comes with 6 packets of carbon, a plastic frame, and 6 empty filter pads. when i'm done cleaning the gravel in the guppy tank and it's time to just do the water removal part, i rubberband one of the filter pads over the end of the gravel vac. then i don't have to stand there and make sure none of those idiots swim up the tube.