Fish Trapped

[MermaidMel]

One of my fish has managed to get BEHIND my 3D backgroud do you think if it got in there, it will be able to get back out again?

 

[Geoff1991]

To be honest, id help it out... Just in case.

 

[MermaidMel]

Thing is, I don't know how to
The background is siliconed down and the tank is full of water
It's a houdini act, I don't know how it's happened

 

[shelaghfishface]

which fish is it mel?

 

[MermaidMel]

which fish is it mel?

My betta, I have been watching it play all day from my computer and went on the school run and hadn't seen it since I came home, just took a torch to the back of the tank and he's swimming up the back of the background

I didn't even know there was a gap to get through, worried about my baby L066 now. I can see him but he could well do the same.

 

[Geoff1991]

How much of a gap is there?

Try and lure him to the top with food and then net him if you have enough room?

 

[shelaghfishface]

oh gosh, i was hoping you would say something full of mischeif like a neon ....
i really dont know mel aside from removing the 3D that is.. maybe someone has had the same problem and will help, is he jammed or able to move a wee bit?

 

[MermaidMel]

He is moving about, the background isn't flat at the back it goes with the contours at the front. He's wriggled in at one end but he's at the opposite end to where he went in. Where I had to cut the background on one side to make it fit there is a small gap but I didn't think it was big enough for a fish to get through. I can't see any other way around it than to empty the tank and remove the background - what a nightmare. But the how to seal up the hole? Need it!

 

[Geoff1991]

Isn't there silicone you can use underwater?

If so, maybe you could carefully cut away the silicone holding the background in place, pull it forwards and get the fish out and then silicone it up.

Seems so simple in my head, but its actually probably quite a task...

 

[simonas]

if the fish doesn't come out I;d be tempted to cut background out, you could possibly do it with a stanley knife whillst the water is in the tank

Nightmare situation, once theylve been in once you can guarantee they'll get back in and your plecs a prime candidate for that gap!!

 

[MermaidMel]

Isn't there silicone you can use underwater?

If so, maybe you could carefully cut away the silicone holding the background in place, pull it forwards and get the fish out and then silicone it up.

Seems so simple in my head, but its actually probably quite a task...

I think there is some yes but I don't have any right now lol

It's whether or not he can manage until tomorrow and in the meantime he is in the farmost corner away from the gap he got through

if the fish doesn't come out I;d be tempted to cut background out, you could possibly do it with a stanley knife whillst the water is in the tank

Nightmare situation, once theylve been in once you can guarantee they'll get back in and your plecs a prime candidate for that gap!!

Luckily I have a really long thin kitchen knife that would prize it away but unluckily I haven't got a clue to stop it happening again

 

[shelaghfishface]

if the fish doesn't come out I;d be tempted to cut background out, you could possibly do it with a stanley knife whillst the water is in the tank

Nightmare situation, once theylve been in once you can guarantee they'll get back in and your plecs a prime candidate for that gap!!

sounds like the best thing to do, if the bugga dont swimm as soon as you cut it to another part !
but yes i would go with that

 

[Geoff1991]

If i were you, id cut all the way down the silicone with a sharp knife, and pull the whole background out then re-do it whenever's convenient.

 

[MermaidMel]

It's impossible, it isn't working

I've retrieved the baby pleco out of the tank to stop him doing it

But my betta is up the wrong end of an 80cm long tank and he won't budge - I've assessed the gap and he must have basically done a little circus trick to get through it, what a troublemaker

To make it worse, the tank has wall at the opposite end to wear he is so I can't get in that side

 

[WILDER]

Turn tanks lights out and he might swim back out.