Kuhlies and filters dont mix

[Setsuna]

G'day.

Today I came home and found my filter had stoped workin. I took it out to clean it, thinking it was just dirty, and found one of my kuhlies was decapitated in the 'propeller'.

The filter I have is an Aqua One 101F, and its supposed to be designed to prevent fish and fry from getting near the 'propeller'. The only way I can think that the kuhli got to the 'propeller' was if it went against the water flow and entered the (forgive me, I dont know the technical term for this) part where the water is expelled.

Has anyone heard of a kuhlie doing something like this? Or would there be another explanation as to how the kuhlie got in there. The filter was closed properly, and the size of the intake holes are only big enough for very small fry to get into the filter sponge.

On a side note, my other two kuhlies have been sulking in one of the plants since it happened.

[Graeme Robson]

Yes Pangio's (Kuhli's) are often known to venture in places where they shouldn't. I've just did a google on the aqua one filter and i could only imagine that the Pangio was comfortable with living around the back and on top of your filter and unfortunately ventured near your outlet. If possible, you should try and add a mesh covering. I keep Pangio's in a tank with plenty vegetation for them to hide in. Sorry for your loss. Perhaps this chap didn't settle in like the others.

[Mad Duff]

This is the exact reason why all my internal filters in my Loach tanks are fitted with spray bars, sorry to hear about you Kuhli

[Wendie]

Yes, I lost one of my black kuhlis to an internal filter. It was when I first put the filter into the tank about 5 months ago.

[The Kapenta Kid]

Kuhlis are so inquisitive about squeezing into any conceivable hole or gap that this stuff happens.

[Wendie]

That one swam up thru the out tube of the filter against the current.

I also had a big problem with them getting into my external AquaClear filters until I put up plastic canvas in all the areas by intake and out take areas.