Jumping fish

[puffergirl]

I just got back from a weeks vacation and found that two of my fish have jumped out of their tanks and unfortunalty passed on. I found one green barb behind my 20 gal tank and one black skirt tetra beside my 30 gal tank. Is it normal for fish to jump out of their tanks like this, I know some have an instinc to do so, already had to rescue my red tailed black shark once then learned to cover the tank well. But because of the automatic feeders being mounted for vacation there had to be a little gap. I didn't think I had to worry about my barbs or tetras jumping out! Did they get over excited for the food and jump for it?

[William]

Could have been excited, something could have spooked them, could have been trying to get away from something in the water [ chem or another fish ].


I'm sorry about your fish, This is why I recently made the conversion to all heavy glass hoods, ultra tight fit, nothing can get out..

[Tigerlily]

Sorry to hear about your fish. I had a suicidal tiger barb who jumped out of a bucket while I was moving the tank. Fortunately I was right there to save him. I think he was just spooked because of all the commotion.

Maybe the automatic feeders spooked your fish, or maybe they were just in a feeding frenzy (esp. the green barb!) and so jumped out by the food, trying to get at the source! I have all the holes in my hood covered with plastic and packing tape. Planning to go out and get glass hoods like William did...

[myriam]

Wow, I've never heard of or even seen a glass hood. Does it have spacers for the heater, filter intake tube, etc.? Where is the lightbulb then? So you can also see down into the tank? How cool is that! How much do you think one costs for a 20G?

[Allivymar]

I have a glass hood for my planted tank. They cover like...4/5 of the top of the tank, and come with a plastic strip that you can cut out to accomodate the filters and wires for the heater etc, that fits the last 1/5. They're not too expensive; think I spent $10 for mine. I then bought lights that sit on the top (a coupla Coralife lights actually; this way I can have 2 lights on the top for the plants as the glass doesn't block the light like a regular plastic hood would). They do need to be cleaned regularly; at my place the water leaves a white film on it when it dries.

If you look here you can see how the light fixture just sits on top of the glass hood: http://www.myaquaria.com/gallery/pla...lanted_10_5_03

Do be careful with em tho; with a HOB filter fish can get out thru the space. I lost a bamboo shrimp that way. Next time I go shopping, I'll be picking up some of that new saranwrap to block off those spaces better.

[ScottS]

I, too, had a red-tailed black shark make a fateful jump. Let's just say I'll never put my aquarium near my bed again.

Also had an Opaline Gourami make that jump. Took me a while to find that one though. I had the glass top, but I guess I trimmed the plastic a bit too generously.

[William]

Originally Posted by Allivymar

I have a glass hood for my planted tank. They cover like...4/5 of the top of the tank, and come with a plastic strip that you can cut out to accomodate the filters and wires for the heater etc, that fits the last 1/5. They're not too expensive; think I spent $10 for mine. I then bought lights that sit on the top (a coupla Coralife lights actually; this way I can have 2 lights on the top for the plants as the glass doesn't block the light like a regular plastic hood would). They do need to be cleaned regularly; at my place the water leaves a white film on it when it dries.

If you look here you can see how the light fixture just sits on top of the glass hood: http://www.myaquaria.com/gallery/pla...lanted_10_5_03

Do be careful with em tho; with a HOB filter fish can get out thru the space. I lost a bamboo shrimp that way. Next time I go shopping, I'll be picking up some of that new saranwrap to block off those spaces better.

If you trim it right theres no place for them to get out

I can't fit a piece of paper in any one spot around my HOB its that tight a fit, and still allows regular working.


EDIT:

Okay, I'm a dumb :censor: I decided to check my HOB right now since we're talking about it, and I'll be danged if I didn't find 4 of my crabs in there 8O

[Allivymar]

*starts laffing*

Amazing what those lil buggers can get up to when they put their teeny minds to it. Is why I'm going to try that sarawrap stuff. I'm getting 2 bamboo shrimp (a male and a female!!) and a bunch of cherry shrimp and I am NOT gonna lose em this time!

[Voodoo Chilli]

I've used both Saran Wrap and aluminum foil to cover openings in tank coverings. Both work well to cover the odd openings when heaters and filters are involved.