Fish that don't jump

[Stolireef]

I have an open top rimless tank and I really don't like the idea of putting a cover on it (although, if I do, it'll be from Artfully Acrylic). Has anyone compiled a list of fish that are unlikely to jump. I know wrasses and dart fish are problematic. Other than those what else should I stay away from?

Thanks.

 

[Diana A]

wouldn't they all jump if they are chased or frighten.

 

[hogfanreefer]

Only ones that won't ever jump are ones that are not alive.

Seriously any fish can jump. Yes some are more likely to that than others. There are some really cool screen tops built for rimless tanks that are almost invisible at eye level!

 

[scooter31707]

I agree any fish can or will jump, but IMO fish jump when the are scared or they are being chased from aggression of another fish.

 

[Gladmaker]

All of the above is not really answering the original question. I would also like to see a list of those that are more likely to jump out. In researching several species, some of them say they must have a tight fitting lid or they will jump out. I know all fish have the ability to jump, but many probably won't unless frightened.

Which ones will more than likely jump out if there is no lid?

 

[mike61289]

All of the above is not really answering the original question. I would also like to see a list of those that are more likely to jump out. In researching several species, some of them say they must have a tight fitting lid or they will jump out. I know all fish have the ability to jump, but many probably won't unless frightened.

Which ones will more than likely jump out if there is no lid?

This question is too open-ended. Any fish can jump and will typically jump when startled. Some fish even jump when trying to snag some food on the water surface if they use too much energy.

The fish that will jump more frequently are those that swim fast and are more "bullet-shaped." These include wrasses, dartfish, gobies, etc...

Having said that, I have also had a butterflyfish and tang leap out of my tank in the past.

There is no definitive answer.

 

[brad]

I'd be shocked if a mandarin jumped, I've never seen a puffer, eel or lionfish jump.

 

[Half Vaped]

I agree with Mike above. The only fish that I think would be impossible to jump are Seahorses.

Other fish that are highly likely to jump are Blennies, Firefish, Jawfish, Anthias and Dottybacks. I've found Wrasses, Blennies and Firefish most likely to jump at any random time--these should be absolutely avoided in an open tank.

Gobies, Jawfish, Anthias and Dottybacks tend to jump when first introduced, but are less likely to once settled--try these at your own risk.

Some fish that have a medium chance of jumping are Clowns, Basslets, Tangs and Angels. Fairly safe, but again, they may jump at some random time.

Safe choices would be fish that are slow methodical swimmers, such as Puffers, Filefish and Banggai/PJ Cardinals. It's not impossible for these fish to jump either, especially a hyper Puffer.

If I were in your position, I'd opt for a covered tank. Bulk Reef Supply has a decent 1/4" mesh DIY kit for a good price. Looks fine and doesn't reduce the lighting or hold in heat. Really opens up what kinds of fish you can keep without worrying about jumpers.

 

[Half Vaped]

I'd be shocked if a mandarin jumped, I've never seen a puffer, eel or lionfish jump.

True, Mandarins, Eels and Lionfish would be fairly safe choices. I've seen a freshwater Red-Eye Puffer jump. They're usually slow swimmers, but can pick up speed when they want to. I assume saltwater Puffers are the same. But yeah, pretty rare.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

True, Mandarins, Eels and Lionfish would be fairly safe choices. I've seen a freshwater Red-Eye Puffer jump. They're usually slow swimmers, but can pick up speed when they want to. I assume saltwater Puffers are the same. But yeah, pretty rare.

Eels are literally the worst possible choice. They want to die and will even climb out of tanks with a tight fitting lid. I have also lost a dwarf lionfish to jumping, and had a mandarin jump into the tank out of the bag during acclimation.


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[Half Vaped]

Eels are literally the worst possible choice. They want to die and will even climb out of tanks with a tight fitting lid. I have also lost a dwarf lionfish to jumping, and had a mandarin jump into the tank out of the bag during acclimation.


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I'm surprised a Mandarin would jump--mine is such a slow swimmer. I didn't think Eels or Lionfish are jumpers, but I never kept either those, so what do I know? :hmm4:

Goes to show that any fish can be jumpers.

 

[brad]

Eels are the worst choice for an open tank, but they are likely to crawl out. I can't even imagine them possibly going airborne.

I've thought about an open tank. I wouldn't want one unless it was a 2nd tank. If I kept one, I wouldn't have many fish, and I wouldn't have any expensive fish. Would be awesome for clams.

The fish I listed above are unlikely to jump, but not impossible. I might consider a grouper for an open top as well. My miniatus definitely jumps at feeding time, but avoids going near the top of the tank except for food.

 

[zachfishman]

Haven't lost my clowns, damsels, or my dottyback out of my Solana. I have lost a Possum wrasse and a Meiacanthus blenny.

 

[barnaby416]

I had a file fish before, acclimatized it and went out for dinner, came back and found it on the floor. It was still moving, put it back to the tank and it lives. Eventually I had to take it back to the lfs as it won't eat pellets, not good when I go on vacation for weeks. It is still living happily in the lfs.

 

[Stolireef]

Well, I just got notice that my lid from Artfully Acrylic is shipping out. I hope it's as good as I've heard. I really hate to ruin the aesthetic of the rimless tank.

 

[Half Vaped]

Well, I just got notice that my lid from Artfully Acrylic is shipping out. I hope it's as good as I've heard. I really hate to ruin the aesthetic of the rimless tank.

Good choice. I'm willing to sacrifice a small amount of aesthetics if it means a better life for the creatures in my care. You have much more choices open to you for fish selection, good luck.

 

[pinnatus]

White fish can't jump.

 

[ThRoewer]

I found that most fish jump out from corners or from along the tank sides. So a tank with euro-braches will already significantly reduced the likelyhood of fish jumping out.
Some fish jump during spawning (due to the fact that most tanks are too shallow). These are the fish that generally jump in the center of the tank. For those you will need a full cover (or sides that are taller than the fish can jump).

As for eels, on the list of escape artists they are possibly only second to the various octopus species (who can get out of everything that isn't tight and on top of that padlocked). Eels are actually known to travel over land if that's what it takes to escape confinement or to reach new feeding grounds.

There are plenty of fish that are unlikely to jump, but there are very few that are incapable of jumping.

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[Brieninsac]

As others have noted most fish have the ability to jump out of an aquarium. With that said, some fish prefer staying on the sand bed. So maybe those fish would be less likely to jump out.

 

[ThRoewer]

As others have noted most fish have the ability to jump out of an aquarium. With that said, some fish prefer staying on the sand bed. So maybe those fish would be less likely to jump out.

Gobies and jawfish are sand dwellers and generally some of the most jumpy fish.

Large angels are are among the more unlikely jumpers. Generally, the more torpedo shaped a fish is, the more likely it is to jump.

Seahorses would be one group of fish that are almost certainly incapable of jumping...

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