Swordtail Jumped Out Of Tank

[robert1979]

Hi,

I bought two female and one male swordtails today. I left to go out for dinner. When I came back about 2 hours later I went to check on my new fish. I found the females swimming happily among the plants and rock but no sign of the male. Looked and looked but couldn't find him. Started searching around the tank just in case. He ended up somehow jumping through the opening on the back of the cover where the filter water pours in. He was dead behind the tank. Is this fairly normal behavior for swordtails? Are they jumpers? I know it must sound like a stupid question but I have never had them before. Any recomendations on how to seal up the small gap? I don't care to come home again and find more fish like that

Rob

 

[mnbyiuopre]

Some fish jump and some fish don't. Unfortunately swordtails are known to jump. For the cover there really isn't too much you can do about it unless you want to cover some of it with a piece of fabric or something similar.

 

[theotheragentm]

Almost all fish jump. Lids should be used always. You'd be surprised what small holes fish can jump through.

 

[piratedninja]

did you try putting the fish back in the tank?
ive recovered a platy who jumped out and i thought i was dead i just put it back in the tank and it instantly started swimming

just put some kind of fabric or maybe even a few cds over the hole and that will stop them from jumping out

 

[kpintheshed]

yes fish jump i remember my old platy jumped in my net breeder but luckly none of the fry got attcked

 

[Kevinator]

I had mine jump out but I caught him in the act!

 

[mommyof2bettas]

yes fish jump i remember my old platy jumped in my net breeder but luckly none of the fry got attcked

the exact same thing happens to me, but with one of my male guppies some fish will jump if they are given the chance-others prefer not to.

 

[robert1979]

Thanks for all the replies. I got the gap plugged up. Using an empty cd case as was suggested, along with a rock sitting on it to make sure it won't move. It just seemed a little strange to me though I guess it shouldn't. I had a red tail shark a few years ago that liked to jump into the filter every now and then. Everytime I couldn't spot him in the tank I'd check the filter and there he'd be! Thankfully he never injured himself.