need help quick!!!!!!!1

[monkeychops]

hi i just came round my brothers house and noticed a fish inside his flter he has a Jewel rio 125 and you cant take the big block filter out-we have taken the compartments out but can't get the fish as it's in a tiny little compartment at the bottom andis too scared to come to the top-what can we do to get this fish out.
We have tried food.
Any help would be fantastic.

 

[WILDER]

This has happened to me remove all the sponges out of the box, take the filter out and remove the outlet flow, they will swim out of the hole where he outlet tube goes.

 

[monkeychops]

i've done all of that but am worried that one of the other fish will swim through the hole what can i do to prevent this-thank you for your quick reply

 

[WILDER]

Sorry i had goldfish so didn't have that problem, do you have a tank divider.

 

[monkeychops]

no i don't have one of them and too many fish to take them all out for afew hours. I'm stuck for ideas

 

[SarahBravo]

It's just a question of waiting I'm afraid. Get two nets, one to catch the little beggar and one to block his escape down into the depths. Stand up over the tank with both nets just inside the filter. Switch the lights off and keep still. When you think your arms are just about to drop off and your legs are asleep he'll swim to the top for a nose about and hopefully you'll catch him. If he's too quick, it's the waiting game again. Can you tell my guppies and golden barbs do this all the time???

Or you can drain the tank by 3/4, then you should be able to scoop him out the bottom, but this is a lot of hassle..... and if you're short like me you'll need a chair to stand on and someone to hold you while you lean over into the filter!!

 

[WILDER]

get anything in the house that would block the tank off in the middle like a plastic sheet or something,, fish don't you just love them.

 

[monkeychops]

well i've got it back in the big compartment and blocked the little ones off now all i need is for it to come to the top. Thanks helping out folks keep your fngers crossed for me.