Cats (felines) and tanks
- Thread starter Ab129
- Start date
- Status
James77
Team RC
amber3k
New member
Gotta throw this in there....I found my thin striped hermit in the middle of the room on the floor surrounded by my three cats. The hermie didn't make it. He was known to climb the cords and overflow from time to time, so I'm not sure if he climbed out and across the floor and the cats watched or if the cats had a paw in helping him out of the tank and across the room.
The heat issue with having a canopy on a marine tank is pretty well solved by LED lighting and the availability of good fan kits for tank rims. It's the safest way to have a tank. I answer a lot of 'oh, woe is me!' posts for various tank disasters---usually 5 year olds with tv remotes and 20 year old drunken party guests with cocktails---but in the years I've been doing this, not one cat crashing a tank, and never one actually catching a fish, though I've known a few that might be capable of it. My own have a dedicated perch beside the (nicely canopied) tank, and like, at least once an evening, to play tag with various fish, who don't seem to freak about it, so no psyches are bent about it. If you have pets and do have softies, never leave discard water sitting about where they might be tempted to drink it---there's at least one story of a dog who came to grief that way. Toss it. And wear gloves. But cats in your tank, not so much.
Dmorty217
Saltwater Addict
This is your opinion and not one that I or the others agree with (clearly since they also have a cat(s). You also didn't help the OP in anyway. Being they have 5 of them they clearly aren't giving them away or putting them outside with the coyotes as you suggested.
To the OP, a canopy should help keep the cats from easily being able to jump on top of the glass tops
Capt.Nemo
New member
I had glass tops on my 75. Every couple of days I would see a paw smear down front glass. One of my 2 cats were the culprit. My guess it was Chewy since he keeps flipping the water bowl over and plays in the toilet. Finally caught him in the act. He wanted to go snorkeling so I stuck him face first and front paws in tank.......problem solved. I did remove both glass tops though so there was nothing to walk on. A strategically placed lamp is an awkward jump.
No more snorkeling for Chewy.
Mater just leans against front glass and swats when they swim by.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
No more snorkeling for Chewy.
Mater just leans against front glass and swats when they swim by.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Bent
I got nothin'
This is your opinion and not one that I or the others agree with (clearly since they also have a cat(s). You also didn't help the OP in anyway. Being they have 5 of them they clearly aren't giving them away or putting them outside with the coyotes as you suggested.
It was a joke, let's all just relax.
Sheesh.
Rough crowd. Cats R serious bidness I guess.
On my FW 180, normally had glass lids, and the cats got used to walking on them. Once one of the cats came to see what I was up to when doing a water change. Jumped up and right in the tank. There was a squeal and a bolt of wet cat running as far away as quickly as possible, while getting the entire mirrored wall with water when she shook while running.
The funniest part, it was a tank of very well sized piranhas.
Next house that tank was in, the basement had a ledge behind the tank, the cats would lay across the gap and lap water through the holes in the lid for return lines.
The funniest part, it was a tank of very well sized piranhas.
Next house that tank was in, the basement had a ledge behind the tank, the cats would lay across the gap and lap water through the holes in the lid for return lines.
jason2459
Well-known member
I don't think it's a good option. besides the cats weight pushing it in potentially I can also see a cat pulling it off.
Darth_Tater
Member
No. My screen top probably COULD hold up 10 lbs, but it would make me very nervous. On the other hand, the mesh stretches a lot. If a cat was to try to step on mesh it'd instantly get a wet paw, which could be a good deterrent.
Darth_Tater
Member
Hmm, I apparently can't edit my last post. I should change "No" to "It depends on the cat and what you need the cover to do."
If your cat likes to walk across the top of the tank, I don't think mesh would be the best choice. If they like to just fish around from the side then it would keep paws out. As far as a failsafe to keep something from drowning in the tank, that one's a toss up. IF the mesh holds then it would work. If it pulls out of the frame I think it would significantly increase the danger since now they're not only swimming, but also caught in a net. It is MUCH better at keeping fish in the tank than eggcrate though...
If your cat likes to walk across the top of the tank, I don't think mesh would be the best choice. If they like to just fish around from the side then it would keep paws out. As far as a failsafe to keep something from drowning in the tank, that one's a toss up. IF the mesh holds then it would work. If it pulls out of the frame I think it would significantly increase the danger since now they're not only swimming, but also caught in a net. It is MUCH better at keeping fish in the tank than eggcrate though...
- Status
