Evaluating the effectiveness of open tank hedges against jumpers

[bettaMagenta]

It's pretty clear that having plants all along the edges of my tanks isn't going to make a huge difference in evaporation, but I've only had one fish make a break for it in two years, and that was before I had all these plants. Now I've got 6-8 hang on planters on each 4-foot tank side, with plants that are 8-10 inches tall, so I'm pretty skeptical a regular fish could jump out.

I've been eyeing those giant hatchet fish for a while now, but I've been warned they can launch themselves 6-8 feet in the air. Since my tanks all have a ceiling or another tank above them, I might just have to give those hatchets a shot when my plants grow up to the lights.

I'm guessing floating plants and perfect conditions would limit most fish's ability to jump, but for some fish, jumping is part of their spawning ritual, right?

[juicebox]

I've learned that with certain fish, like copella arnoldi, jumping's actually part of their spawning behavior - they'll leap out of the water onto leaves or even the tank sides to spawn. It's just another fascinating quirk that makes these creatures so captivating.

[infold]

Don't ever underestimate the jumping prowess of any fish. My experience with Killifish, albeit limited, has left me in awe of their capabilities. A juvenile Fundulopanchax gardneri I once observed, made a remarkable ten-foot leap from a standing start - completely aerial, no less. What struck me was that this little guy wasn't startled or spooked; he simply decided to take to the air.

[graye]

While having plants overhanging the tank edges can minimize the risk of fish jumping out, I feel it's not entirely foolproof. As I've only lost one fish to jumping in two years, I'm inclined to think that my setup is somewhat secure. Still, I've become intrigued by the idea of keeping giant hatchet fish, despite their impressive jumping abilities.

[kokomo]

Hatchets have always been the ones that made me a bit anxious during tank maintenance. I mean, you're trying to get a sponge out, and suddenly you catch a glimpse of something out of the corner of your eye. You turn around, and there's a fish lying on the floor 15 feet away, or stuck to the wall somewhere.

[MrGuppy]

I'm not serious, but imagine if we could just add some extra height to our tanks. You know, like those super tall sticks - 7 feet high or something - attached to the sides and wrapped in non-sticky plastic. It sounds ridiculous, but it would be awesome if it actually worked.

[kayoko]

I think it ultimately comes down to personal preference - every fish is capable of jumping at some point, and having an open-top tank for aesthetic reasons means you're taking on that risk. I've had my fair share of fish jumping out, including zebra plecos that I've found dead on the floor after coming home.

One particularly memorable incident was when my hillstream loach got smacked by a shoe - it was quite the impact. The aftermath was pretty amusing, though - I had to have a chat with my Maria about making sure the fish don't jump out, only to turn around and jokingly tell the fish themselves not to jump. It doesn't make much sense, but it's all about keeping her happy, I suppose.

On a more practical note, I've always wondered why people don't just use glass or acrylic covers for their tanks. If you have a rimless tank, you could attach a hinge to one side, cut two pieces of glass or acrylic, and add hinges to those as well. This way, you could have a folding cover with a handle that lifts and folds back, even if you have a tank above it. It seems like a pretty straightforward solution to me.