Flowerhorn keeps eating Sponge Filter! Help!

[Empyreal]

Hi guys,

This is my prized blue diamond / thai silk (whatever you want to call it, never have been big on FH names) flowerhorn - Ghost. I have grown him out from one inch and he has so far been in perfect health (knock on wood). Problem is every once in a while he takes a chunk out of the sponge filter. I know this for sure because you can see the missing chunks toward the top of the filter and because he passes pieces of it every so often. I am scared that one time it will cause a blockage and not pass. I really dont want to remove the filter (although I already have two AC70 on the tank), because i feel it has aided on keeping Ghost healthy. Im guessing hes eating pieces of it trying to get at food that is stuck in the filter? Any ideas how to keep the sponge filter but keep him from eating it?

Thank you guys!

 

[Montelboom]

Nice FH and have you tried hiding it so he cant see it? (Put objects to obstruct view)

Sent from my SCH-R830C

 

[Aquatic Aggression]

Remove the sponge filter, Mr. genius.

 

[Montelboom]

Remove the sponge filter, Mr. genius.

If you had read it he stated he didnt want to

Sent from my SCH-R830C

 

[Aquatic Aggression]

I did read that thanks. I also applied a little bit of common sense. Remove the sponge filter or do something goofy like put it in a breeder box or something.

 

[Empyreal]

Remove the sponge filter, Mr. genius.

Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning lol. Yes I understand removing it would be the easy fix, but as I stated in my post (thanks montelboom) I dont want to remove it because I think the bio filter does wonders in keeping my FH healthy. I was just looking for alternate ideas before taking it strait out.

 

[Empyreal]

Nice FH and have you tried hiding it so he cant see it? (Put objects to obstruct view)

Sent from my SCH-R830C

I may try to put a large piece of driftwood in the way, see how that works? Any way you think to curtail the behavior of chewing on the sponge? Has anyone else delt with or heard of their fish doing this?

 

[convict360]

Lol never had this, I'd just hide it as mentioned before by others.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[Empyreal]

Lol never had this, I'd just hide it as mentioned before by others.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

I could cut a piece of egg-crate and caddy corner it, into the corner that the sponge filter is in. That would definitley keep him out, although would look very ugly lol. Thanks for the suggestions guys

 

[Aquatic Aggression]

They will bite and attack things to occupy their time. He's just going to keep munching it down. Try to hide it? The fish is in the tank 24 hours a day I'm sure he's going to run into the sponge filter again eventually lol. You posted a picture of bits of the sponge coming out of the fish's behind.... How many more times do you think he's got before it totally blocks him up?