jumping firefish?

niloc16 · #1 06-02-2006, 10:12 PM

i use to have a purple firefish for a few months and then after i purchased my flame angel he jumped out. i want to get another purple firefish and a red firefish at the same time. i am trying to figure out how often they do jump. i know they are classified as jumpers but from the people i talk to at the LFS say they rarely get them jumping. any advice to lessen the chance of them committing suicide would be great. i currently have pair of black percs (had for a week), flame angel, sixline wrasse and a blue/green chromis. i dont want to cover my tank but i was thinking of maybe using egg crate on top for awhile to get them used to the tank.

TheReefGeek · #2 06-02-2006, 10:54 PM

I would use egg crate permanently, temporarily will just save their lives temporarily.

Not much you can do to get them not to jump, they can get spooked in the night, and shoot straight up, or jump out when chased by another fish.

Rondelet · #3 06-05-2006, 06:08 AM

I've had several fire fish and can't recall having seen them jump - but I also have a glass lid. However, I would agree with TheReefGeek - use egg crate as there is no reason to take a chance. If heat ever became an issue for me, which it isn't at the moment, I would just switch my glass lid for egg crate.

Quagmire · #4 06-05-2006, 01:40 PM

I had a Firefish that would jump everytime someone would come into the room.I used eggcrate,but it still managed to jump through the holes.One day the cat was faster picking it up than I was.

TheReefGeek · #5 06-05-2006, 02:49 PM

Yeah eggcrate is not the "perfect" fix, small fish can still make it through if they hit a hole just perfectly. But I think it is the best combination overall choice because it offers good protection, and still allows gas exchange.

There is plastic mesh that can be used as well, no fish could make it through it, gas exchange would be cut maybe in half though.

DanG · #6 06-05-2006, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheReefGeek

I would use egg crate permanently, temporarily will just save their lives temporarily.

Not much you can do to get them not to jump, they can get spooked in the night, and shoot straight up, or jump out when chased by another fish.

I had that last night, I don't know what happened during the night but it made my lawmower blenny was all dried up on the carpet this morning. He made it a good 10 feet from the tank somehow.

WaterLogged · #7 06-05-2006, 03:43 PM

ohh your blenny probably did the worm across the carpet. Happened to me once too, but I found him in the basement. lol . My tank is upstairs!!

TheReefGeek · #8 06-05-2006, 03:44 PM

They can end up a fair ways from the tank, because they flip-flop all over the place after they hit the ground.

Before I started using egg-crate I found fish in adjascent rooms!

niloc16 · #9 06-05-2006, 05:24 PM

i bought some eggcrate last night and got it cut up to fit really good. today i'm going to get the firefish and cross my fingers it will work. i'll post some pics when i get it setup. i've lost a firefish and a chromis to jumping.

Sebae · #10 06-06-2006, 01:59 AM

What do you use to cut it so it doesn't chip or break ?