Jumping Fish!!!!!

BigBearReef · Dec 10, 2019

Recently added 2 Green Chromies and 1 Diamond Gobi. They transferred fine from LFS to my 40 gal Cube tank, but then I noticed that one of the chromies was missing 3 days in. I chalked this up to maybe it hiding, But NO it was no where to be found. 1 week later the remaining chromie and the Gobi were also MIA. I knew going in that both of these fish were jumpers so I left the stock lid on the tank (without the light, as I have a AI Prime 16) in hopes that this would be good enough. Well nope it wasn't! Are there other reefers that have had this happen to them, and if so did you replace the fish and what did you do to fix the issue.

Tamberav · Dec 10, 2019

Are you sure they didn't perish from some other cause? Did you find bodies?

Diamond gobies will 100% jump if there isn't a lid though but to lose all 3 so quickly... ehh..

All my tanks have custom lids made so my fish can not escape.

GreatSouth BayReefs · Dec 10, 2019

purchase a custom lid or make a DIY one for about $30 and a few hours of time. Many write ups on both I personally have a diy screen tops and superglued little handles on them. Work perfect for my fish and snowflake eel

GoldeneyeRet · Dec 10, 2019

All fish can jump and all tanks should have a tight fitting lid, mesh is best. Fish can and will jump through any hole that is the size of their heads. They have excellent aim!

Idoc · Dec 10, 2019

If you didn't find bodies outside the tank, how do you know they jumped? But if you have a cat or dog, that would explain a missing jumper on the floor! Smell their breath, lol.

CJD18 · Dec 10, 2019

Pretty sad, you knew that they where jumpers!

BigBearReef · Dec 10, 2019

Idoc said:
If you didn't find bodies outside the tank, how do you know they jumped? But if you have a cat or dog, that would explain a missing jumper on the floor! Smell their breath, lol.

Have cat and dogs that would eat. Have not found bodies

BigBearReef · Dec 10, 2019

Tamberav said:
Are you sure they didn't perish from some other cause? Did you find bodies?

Diamond gobies will 100% jump if there isn't a lid though but to lose all 3 so quickly... ehh..

All my tanks have custom lids made so my fish can not escape.

No bodies!

Super Fly · Dec 10, 2019

GoldeneyeRet said:
All fish can jump and all tanks should have a tight fitting lid, mesh is best. Fish can and will jump through any hole that is the size of their heads. They have excellent aim!

This. Eventhough I had a custom lid, a clown fish somehow jumped thru a narrow 3/4" x 3" opening by the autofeeder area and ended up as fish chip on top of the screen...

Doctorgori · Dec 10, 2019

Idoc said:
If you didn't find bodies outside the tank, how do you know they jumped? But if you have a cat or dog, that would explain a missing jumper on the floor! Smell their breath, lol.

yeah I'm 100% sure my cat cleans up all the evidence

Waynerock · Dec 10, 2019

My cat just plays with them until they stop moving at the least I usually find some scales on the floor. Long time no lid and only lost two. knock on wood. Survival of the laziest, too lazy to jump and you get to live longer. The ones I want gone will live a long happy life unfortunately. One of these days I am gonna catch those clowns and bite them back!!

Billdogg · Dec 10, 2019

I am a big fan of DIY screen tops using window screen frames and 1/4" mesh for BRS. They are easy to make and very effective at keeping the fish in the tank. I made mine (for a 120DT) in 4 sections. Two narrow strips across the back so that you can route power head cords through them and leave them in place, and another two sections that cover the front of each side so that I can easily remove them for access the tank for cleaning.

Mima58 · Dec 10, 2019

Billdogg said:
I am a big fan of DIY screen tops using window screen frames and 1/4" mesh for BRS. They are easy to make and very effective at keeping the fish in the tank. I made mine (for a 120DT) in 4 sections. Two narrow strips across the back so that you can route power head cords through them and leave them in place, and another two sections that cover the front of each side so that I can easily remove them for access the tank for cleaning.

I have found that plastic crafting embroidery panels work well too. They come in different colors, inexpensive, and they come in different sizes.

Good luck to all.

Nhigby · Dec 11, 2019

Billdogg said:
I am a big fan of DIY screen tops using window screen frames and 1/4" mesh for BRS. They are easy to make and very effective at keeping the fish in the tank. I made mine (for a 120DT) in 4 sections. Two narrow strips across the back so that you can route power head cords through them and leave them in place, and another two sections that cover the front of each side so that I can easily remove them for access the tank for cleaning.

Won't this type of screen interfere with your lighting?

Billdogg · Dec 11, 2019

Mima58 said:
I have found that plastic crafting embroidery panels work well too. They come in different colors, inexpensive, and they come in different sizes.
Good luck to all.

the problem with those is that, because they are so thick, they end up blocking a fairly significant amount of light

Mima58 · Dec 11, 2019

Nhigby said:
Won't this type of screen interfere with your lighting?

I don't believe so as the squares in the mesh are bigger of those in window screening. But, I'm no authority of course, I'm just suggesting as it works for me and might help others.

Nhigby · Dec 11, 2019

Billdogg said:
the problem with those is that, because they are so thick, they end up blocking a fairly significant amount of light

That's what I was thinking too just from the photo provided. We are just about through cycling on our new 150. Soon we'll start stocking the tank but I need to figure out what to use to keep fish and snails from bailing. I'm considering screening by Red Sea but we'll need to do some measuring. We've got 2 corner overflows to factor in, as well as the zetlight LED UFO's that attach to the back of all three sections.

Mima58 · Dec 11, 2019

Nhigby said:
That's what I was thinking too just from the photo provided. We are just about through cycling on our new 150. Soon we'll start stocking the tank but I need to figure out what to use to keep fish and snails from bailing. I'm considering screening by Red Sea but we'll need to do some measuring. We've got 2 corner overflows to factor in, as well as the zetlight LED UFO's that attach to the back of all three sections.

To be fair-- I am only dealing with a Nano tank, but, the plastic mesh could be joined by fishing line. No metal involved to subject to rust from salt creep.

I so envy you with a 150gal tank. Because of life circumstances now, I can only handle a Nano tank, or I would go all out too!
So awesome. Please update us on your choice of keeping the jumpers in.

Nhigby · Dec 11, 2019

Mima58 said:
To be fair-- I am only dealing with a Nano tank, but, the plastic mesh could be joined by fishing line. No metal involved to subject to rust from salt creep.
I so envy you with a 150gal tank. Because of life circumstances now, I can only handle a Nano tank, or I would go all out too!
So awesome. Please update us on your choice of keeping the jumpers in.

Thank you, and I will! Fingers crossed it goes well. We also have a biocube32 which has a lid with LED lights so I haven't had to deal with jumpers, though the snails do crawl up over and into the overflow areas.