green severum jumped from aquarium

[kingtut9706]

My prized green severum (4") jumped from my aquarium and was found dead on the floor by my sister. He was housed in a 55 gallon aquarium with:

1 6" long angel (about 7"-8" tall)
1 3" festivum
3 3" cory cats
1 4" pleco

What would make him jump from the aquarium? Like a feud with the other fish? Or maybe the water quality? All the other fish seem fine. The ammonia is 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 20, pH is 7.0. I never missed a water change.

This really made me sad. He was my favorite fish. He didn't seem to have any battles with the other fish. All of the fish seem pretty peaceful.

I want to know if this was a freak accident or my tank or other fish caused this to happen. I want to get another severum and wonder whether it is a good idea or not.

I will put a tight fitting cover on the tank and even put rocks on the lids (I have had to put rocks on the lids in the past). I just want input from someone who knows more about South American Cichlids.

Thank you,

Adam

[Marinemom]

Fish can jump when they get spooked. In the wild, if they jump they are just jumping to more water. Sorry for your loss.

Marinemom

[Squawkbert]

I had my 5" JD in a 5 gal bucket (4 day cross country move, day 0.2) and he jumped. I got him back in the water in time (barely) - I had to do a little CPR on him (back flush gills w/ water). I kept the bucket after that. Only other times he jumped were all to grab feeders.

[jm1212]

fish jump when they are spooked and when water conditions are less than ideal, like really high nitrates, nitrites, ammoina, phosphate, etc.

[Cylon]

Fish jump for other reasons.

Low Air
Get Spooked or Stress out
Over Crowding
To small of a tank
Hunger
and jm's reasons

SInce your tank is an alright size for your fish at the size they are. I would wonder about it being. Air flow or spooked.

[gomezladdams]

Fish can jump for any of those reasons or a reason only the fish knows,best to always cover tanks.

Sorry to hear you lost your fish.

[Salvador Dali]

very sorry about that I love serverms to. But I found that If a fish has a good hiding spot it should not jump.