GOLDFISH IN SKIMMER

[Mmathis]

I have an OASE floating skimmer (SwimSkim, I think). It works well, and has the additional benefit of air jets. Problem is.....

Fish are getting in. On average, maybe once a week I have to rescue a fish. So far, have had about 4 casualties, but unknown whether these guys were dead before being pulled in, or died afterward.

I've made these observations:
1. Seems to be mostly the "fantail" types (have some FT's and some Ryukins ).
2. Have noticed that when the fish get close to the weir (maybe, following some food) and realize there is a current there, they do a flip motion to get away.

COMBINE 1 & 2, and my conclusion there is that the FT's are slower and more awkard than the single-tails, so they can't react as quickly to get away. And when these guys "flip," guessing they just flip right into the skimmer. I have one, "Spaz," a Ryukin, with a deformed tail. Had to "rescue" him so many times that I finally decided to make him an inside pet.

3. Noticed lots of algae on the skimmer, and wondering if that was an attractant, have decided to keep it scraped and see if it makes any difference on the number of "captures." Too soon to tell.

I'm getting where I check it several times a day, and if I'm not going to be around, will unplug it.

Is there a SOLUTION to keeping fish out of the skimmer, or is this just something that's gonna happen? I'm heartbroken when I find a dead one

 

[HTH]

Sorry to hear about the fish it can be had.

Some goldfish like to play in the bubbles and moving water. I watched video of the skimmer and it does not seem like there is enough power there to suck live fish in. Not sure.

Take it out and see if you get any more dead fish.

 

[Mmathis]

Sorry to hear about the fish it can be had.

Some goldfish like to play in the bubbles and moving water. I watched video of the skimmer and it does not seem like there is enough power there to suck live fish in. Not sure.

Take it out and see if you get any more dead fish.

Oh, I'm getting so paranoid that I actually do disconnect it and check for fish, even if it doesn't need to be emptied, especially if there's something caught like a fish-colored leaf

As to the power, it is amazingly strong for such a small device, and really keeps a current going! But like I mentioned, when I've observed the fish getting close to the intake, their behavior is to flip & try to swim away, so guessing that's how they get trapped. And again, don't know if the dead ones were trapped alive, or were already dead.

 

[gardengimp]

Hate those fish-colored leaves. Oak leaves, I swear are the worst, they are kinda fish shaped also.

Maggie, what size are the fish you are finding in the skimmer?

 

[HTH]

Black Moors look remarkably like the dead leaves you just scooped out of the pond.