Wrasse question

[Bike2k]

Picked up a Labout's Fairy Wrasse last weekend. I know they can jump so I want to put a screen over my tank. The tank is a 75g with a middle top support and an enclosed canopy. Here is a pic.

I was going to set up a screen on each side, but figured it would make it a pain to feed the fish as the canopy opens from the top and my current lights sit on the top rim of the tank (no legs). I then thought I would build 2 screens per side making a smaller one for feeding. the problem with that is the extra frame required would block more light from getting into the tank.

So what do you think would be the best approach?
1. Leave a gap in the screen at the front of the tank for feeding OR
2. Build the full 2 part screen and accept the shadow OR
3. Don't screen the tank since it is mostly covered

Your opinions/advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

 

[albano]

if your lights are sitting right on the rim, then you would simply NOT put them over the extra cover's frame, and no light will be blocked...right?

BTW, the tank looks brand new, is it ready for fish?

IMO adding a labouti first, may mean that you will have problems with adding any add'l wrasses

to answer your main ?...I would make 3 covers, 1 covering 1/2 the tank (left or rt side), and splitting the other side with 2 (1 large for the back, and 1 small for feeding in the front)

 

[lostmyz]

If you leave any portion of the lid open.... that wrasse WILL and I mean WILL find a way out. Also yo need to make sure you get a screen that is small enough that he can't fit through it. I had a wrasse fit through a screen top that i thought he couldn't get through... i was wrong... I now use 1/4" clear plastic screen.... aint nobody going through that. The wrasse that jumped I had for 2 yrs

 

[Bike2k]

ok then double screens is the answer.

 

[shonc182]

If you leave any portion of the lid open.... that wrasse WILL and I mean WILL find a way out. Also yo need to make sure you get a screen that is small enough that he can't fit through it. I had a wrasse fit through a screen top that i thought he couldn't get through... i was wrong... I now use 1/4" clear plastic screen.... aint nobody going through that. The wrasse that jumped I had for 2 yrs

Apologies for the hijack....[followed by hijack]. Where did you get the clear screen?

 

[ridetheducati]

Apologies for the hijack....[followed by hijack]. Where did you get the clear screen?

Try Bulk Reef Supply, they carry 1/4" and 1/2".

 

[ridetheducati]

ok then double screens is the answer.

While the wrasse is in quarantine for several weeks, build the 1/4" screens.

 

[jackde]

I might be missing something from the pic but with that canopy why do need a screen? It looks somewhat like mine and I used some plastic gutter screen along opening in the back.

 

[ridetheducati]

I might be missing something from the pic but with that canopy why do need a screen? It looks somewhat like mine and I used some plastic gutter screen along opening in the back.

The screen keeps fish in the water not on the floor or stuck to the inside of the canopy.

 

[CoryD]

The screen keeps fish in the water not on the floor or stuck to the inside of the canopy.

Just wondering? how would a fish get stuck to the inside of the canopy? If a screen, or gutter gaurd was put on the back of the canopy it would totaly enclose the top of the tank. No worries about feeding or cleaning. If a fish did jump and somehow landed on the rim of the tank or whatever im pretty sure it would just flip around and fall back in the water.

 

[Bike2k]

the fish could get stuck on the lip of the tank inside the canopy

 

[ridetheducati]

Just wondering? how would a fish get stuck to the inside of the canopy? If a screen, or gutter gaurd was put on the back of the canopy it would totaly enclose the top of the tank. No worries about feeding or cleaning. If a fish did jump and somehow landed on the rim of the tank or whatever im pretty sure it would just flip around and fall back in the water.

Good luck.

 

[jrp1588]

the fish could get stuck on the lip of the tank inside the canopy

As he said, fish have a tendency to flop around a lot on dry land. I imagine if it's stuck on rim of the tank he'd flop back in.

On a different note, how high can wrasses jump out of the water? The opening in the canopy I built is about a foot off the water's surface and only a couple inches tall. I plan to get a flasher wrasse soon. I could pretty easily close up the openings, just not sure if I need to.

 

[ridetheducati]

I am just trying to pass on information, do with it as you may. I suppose the cost of the fish is a factor. I bet if you had $1,000 worth of wrasse, you would reconsider.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

You should build two screens to cover the entire top of the tank. Just order the 1/4 inch screen from bulk reef supply and make it like a window frame.
Here's mine: