Small 1" Pepper Cory, bad encounter with filter intake

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Wulfonce

Gambusia
MFK Member
Mar 11, 2009
881
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Ontario
I found a small 1" cory in my 20g stuck to the filter intake. I pulled the plug on the filter and he swam away as soon as the suction stopped. I have no Idea how long he was stuck like that.

Now he's swimming real sluggishly and he often stops swimming for up to 10sec at a time and floats upward slowly. I examined him closely during one of his "non swimming moments" and I cant see anything wrong with him visually. I know its just a small cory but I care for all my fish big and small. Is there anything I can do for him to hopefully prevent his death? At this point its not looking to good, unless hes just in shock from the ordeal? :confused:

I have 5 corys in the tank amongst other tank mates 4 are under 1" and the largest is about 3". They've all been in the tank for around 3 months and I've never seen them stuck to the filter intake befor. I have the filter set to half its capasity now.
 
Well, I'm not really one for treatments, maybe some stress coat is it? I forget now, but me personaly I would make sure parameters are good, keep the lights out and make sure he isnt getting picked on by anyone as fish tend to "finish off" weak or ill fish and wait it out.

Fish are incredible healers, just good parameters and being left alone would be my way of dealing with it.
 
Hayabusa;2980705; said:
Well, I'm not really one for treatments, maybe some stress coat is it? I forget now, but me personaly I would make sure parameters are good, keep the lights out and make sure he isnt getting picked on by anyone as fish tend to "finish off" weak or ill fish and wait it out.

Fish are incredible healers, just good parameters and being left alone would be my way of dealing with it.
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Parameters are spot on.

Anyway he seems to be back to his old self again, constantly cleaning off my driftwood along with his 4 buddys lol.:popcorn: Perhaps he was just in shock? But in all honesty the way he was acting, I thought he was going to die for sure. He seems to be doing quite well now. :nilly:
 
Wulfonce;2980922; said:
Parameters are spot on.

Anyway he seems to be back to his old self again, constantly cleaning off my driftwood along with his 4 buddys lol.:popcorn: Perhaps he was just in shock? But in all honesty the way he was acting, I thought he was going to die for sure. He seems to be doing quite well now. :nilly:
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Ah good news, was likely just stressed, I would just leave the lights off and let him chill out for a couple of days.
 
I spoke to soon.

It happened again this evening. I dont know what his problem is or why he seems to be fascinated with the filter intake. Once again I had to unplug the filter to save him. Next week I'll be visiting my parents 3500km away and wont be able to save him from the "evil" filter intake for 2-3 weeks. If he gets stuck during that time peroid he'll be dead for sure. Im not sure how to cover the filter intake for the 2-3 weeks i'll be gone. I was thinking of just fitting a net over it but the fabric would probably just get sucked in thus making it pointless. How do I cover the filter intake without minamising its suction? I dont know...

hmmm

.....
 
poor little guy-use a piece of sponge to fit over the intake of the filter would be my advice.
 
Get a pair of the mrs old (or not so old) stockings/tights.

Wait, US, panty hose is it over there?
 
navygirl76;2984203; said:
poor little guy-use a piece of sponge to fit over the intake of the filter would be my advice.
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Don't have a sponge but I do have a few spare filter bags, real soft and fluffy. It would probably work almost as good as a sponge.


I woke up this morning and guess who I saw stuck to the filter intake again (man im starting to sound like a broken record player):screwy: My camera just happened to be sitting by the tank so I took a quick unfocused shot so we can sort of see whats going on. Once again I had to unplug the filter to save him. It'll be staying unplugged for a little while until I can fit something over the intake. I know its not a funny situation but I couldn't help but laugh when I noticed all the other corys looking at him as I came to his rescue. How embarrassing lol.

Picture047.jpg


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Well, there's no humor in this next pic. The intake seems to have gotten the better of him. He's sitting at the bottom breathing heavily and his back is horribly twisted. I cant help but feel responsible for this happening. After rescuing him the second time I just turned the filter to half capacity instead of dealing with the problem right then, by fitting something over the intake. I hope he makes it through alright. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for corys. :(



Im no doctor but this doesn't look right...:WHOA:
Picture052.jpg
 
Hayabusa;2984223; said:
Get a pair of the mrs old (or not so old) stockings/tights.

Wait, US, panty hose is it over there?
Click to expand...


Im single. Would a greasy old pair of underwear with a skid mark be ok? :thumbsup:
 
Yeah he isnt looking good is he.

Tbh I'm thinking he must have had something wrong with him already not to have the strength to swim away from it, the others arent going in it all the time.

And I dont think an old pair of dirty skidders would work, no lol.
 
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