Annoying Clownfish Advice

[darkcirca]

I've got 2 False Percs. in my 90 gallon, one is larger and the other is smaller (they used to be the same size, I'm guessing the one is female now). They are always together, but in the past two or so months the smaller one has been jumping into the overflow at night.

This used to be funny, as only the diamond goby was able to jump in, but now it is plain annoying. We have to pull out the standpipes to get him out, and we usually get bit in the process.

We have glass tops on the tank, so there is only a little bit of room for him to get through. Is there something we can do to stop this? I was afraid if I put netting across the the top of the overflow that the clownfish would get stuck. Any other suggestions?

Here's what we found a week or so ago, at least he made it down and over a baffle..

At least we didn't have to get him out of the overflow!!

 

[dalilgriffith]

narrow the gap in the overflow

 

[maxheadroom]

leave him there. that will teach him!

 

[hyperboy]

lol...Mr. Clown's Wild Ride

 

[darkcirca]

I've consider trading him in, but I don't want to deal with Coral (the other fish) killing another fish..plus Nemo was our first fish, so I'd feel bad getting rid of him.

I'm unsure if there is a way to attach something to the overflow that makes it taller, basically making it touch the glass tops. Any suggestions on that? I'd like to be able to keep my diamond goby out of it as well, as he jumps in whenever we use the magcleaner.

 

[Zaita]

Hey, I wen't and got some black plastic chicken wire (for lack of a better description). You can buy it in the garden section of most larger stores (Bunnings, Walmart?).

I cable-tied that to my overflow combs to stop my clownfish jumping into my overflow. Worked like a charm and cost me like $4

 

[darkcirca]

I didn't think of tying it up! That's a good solution, and since I'm going to Lowes tonight already I guess I'll just take a look.

With my bad luck, Nemo will get his fin stuck and die. He's not the brightest fish, and even has a deformed dorsal fin (...which is how we can always tell them apart).

 

[Arati]

Have you tried given him a stern talking to. Its never worked for me, but I keep tryin.

 

[darkcirca]

He doesn't listen. Even giving him a love smack for biting didn't help!

We can't even work on the tank without being bitten now, he gets swatted at constantly, still hasn't learned.

 

[Zaita]

Yea give Lowes a try (we don't have them here). But mine is squared plastic mesh with about 2/3" holes in it. Big enough to let all the crude etc go into the overflow. But small enough my fish can't jump into it.

I ended up with like 4m for $4. Cut a few squares and I was done in under 10minutes.

 

[darkcirca]

I couldn't find anything at Lowes or Home Depot (then again I was in a bad mood and didn't look that hard). Heard Nemo splashing tonight, just went and checked and he is in the overflow.

Oh well, I'll take the next best advice and leave him in there. I'll sprinkle a little food and he can stay put for awhile, at least until I can figure out what to do to stop him from jumping in.

 

[rcgates]

Go to a crafts store and get some plastic canvas. Comes in different colors and works great for covering overflows.

 

[kimsie]

I would think gutter guard would work really well too...

 

[DazedandConfuse]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12299668#post12299668 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rcgates
Go to a crafts store and get some plastic canvas. Comes in different colors and works great for covering overflows.

Walmart usually sells it too.

 

[darkcirca]

Well I'll make a trip out when I get a free day. Until then he can sit in the overflow. If he goes down to the sump, then I will put him back in the tank.

I almost just want to forget about him and leave him in there forever. I know food goes back there, and he'd probably be there when I tear the tank down to move in 2 years..

 

[darkcirca]

After about a week in the overflow we decided to take him out. It's been a few days now and he hasn't jumped back in. Guess he may have finally learned his lesson..at least for now.

 

[EllieSuz]

The plastic canvas at Walmart is called Craft It. I cut a strip of it wide enough to reach the underside of my tank cover and wove it back and forth between the teeth on my overflow. It doesn't interrupt the flow and nothing can get over it. I think it's better than laying something flat over the top of the overflow box because a fish could get stuck up there. Give it a try; it's a cheap solution.