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puffers jumping?

Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 8:59 am
by mke07
i have a mr. aqua open top tank. im getting ready to order my puffer since my tank has been running for about 6 months. My only concern if my puffer would jump. I am planning on getting a congo or an anrrowhead.

Re: puffers jumping?

Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 9:57 am
by Pufferpunk
Those species are less likely to jump, since they are lurkers & spend 90% of their time buried in the sand. Be sure you cycle the tank & have a minimum of 3" sand bed.

Re: puffers jumping?

Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 12:18 pm
by eieio
my congo ("olivia") sometimes swims very vigorously at the top of her tank, and i'm certain she would jump out if it were not covered

Re: puffers jumping?

Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 1:42 pm
by bertie 83
I don't think I would risk an open top tank, It might work but there will always be an element of risk

Re: puffers jumping?

Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 1:53 pm
by FADE2BLACK_1973
eieio wrote:my congo ("olivia") sometimes swims very vigorously at the top of her tank, and i'm certain she would jump out if it were not covered

My congo (Misery) does the same. He is active 95% of the time and only buries late at night when he is ready for bed..lol.



Yeah, active puffers would jump. I would not chance it. Find a way to cover the top.

Re: puffers jumping?

Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 5:54 pm
by Troender
All puffers can jump. Myself, I've lost three to jumping - even though their tanks did have a cover!

Re: puffers jumping?

Posted: Mon May 07, 2012 11:56 pm
by FADE2BLACK_1973
Yep all puffer's can jump except a Palembang. I heard that they lay on the bottom like a rock and you have to hand feed them all the time or they would die from starvation because of the "Imalazyrock syndrome".... :roflmfao: Sorry just some puffer humor..lol

Re: puffers jumping?

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 12:01 am
by sgtmyers88
I have not yet lost any puffers to jumping but in my past experience with keeping other types of fish I have made it a part of my morning ritual to scan the floor around the aquarium to see if I had any late night jumpers.

Re: puffers jumping?

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 9:33 am
by mke07
Ok, well I think bulkreefsupply has mesh cover kits. I will check that out.

Re: puffers jumping?

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 11:23 pm
by FADE2BLACK_1973
mke07 wrote:Ok, well I think bulkreefsupply has mesh cover kits. I will check that out.

:thumb:

Re: puffers jumping?

Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 1:38 am
by Nuclear_Glitter
Good plan.

I have a very skilled eel who managed to jump out of the tank, even with the top on. Also lost a black skirt tetra to jumping.

Re: puffers jumping?

Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 1:13 pm
by FADE2BLACK_1973
I had lost a young Blue Zaire Kap Frontosa acouple of years back from jumping out of the tank. It was too late for him before I found him. I did not get the lid on the tank in time.

Re: puffers jumping?

Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 5:44 pm
by Pufftastic
One of the first posts I read on TPF was about puffers' propensity for jumping. I promptly switched from a regular tank hood (with punch-out sections to accommodate filter tubing, etc.) to a Versa-Top. That way, I could cut out the back precisely around the equipment, with no open space at all.

Has worked beautifully so far. I have seen Hula swim to the top of the tank and have heard a little splash a few times -- so I really do think she'd jump if given the opportunity.