Carpet surfing Clown

[racefan]

What would make an Ocellaris Clown decide to jump out of my tank after 2 years? I found him today on the carpet all dried up. Everybody else is fine (fish & coral) I can't imagine what would make him jump all of a sudden. No new fish or inverts have been added to spook him.

 

[deangelr]

A female clown probably was chasing him....

 

[chez2011]

That happens occasionally, I have seem my clown jumping out of the tank when I was watching TV. Good thing for the little guy I was there for his rescue.

 

[jbax]

i have learned the hard way that bird netting is a must have item. it sucks when you see a $100 clown on the floor all dried up.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...items/clear-1-2-screen-netting-6-5-x-2-5.html

 

[phender]

Besides being chased, it might have gone after another fish near the surface. When the fish moved, he didn't stop at the surface and just kept on going. Sorry to hear about your loss. It has happened a couple times to me and it is very depressing.

 

[jgalvin]

sorry to hear your loss, i just lost my diamond goby of 3 years to carpet surfing last week.

 

[BeanMachine]

Ya I saved a couple and lost a couple before I put a net on the tank. The last straw was when a new wrasse jumped out while I was standing there. I put him back in... and he jumped out again. I actually was able to save him a 3rd time and sold him before he officially committed suicide.

Fish get more aggressive as they get older and establish territories so maybe something is starting in your tank is getting a bit bossy? Or a quick light or movement outside the tank might spook a fish.

 

[racefan]

I have seen the female not really chase him so to speak, more of a turn his way stomp her fin & say "get away from me" (He was quite a bit smaller than her) I had not thought of being spooked & jumping. I just assumed they did not jump at all.