Anyone ever have a neon tetra jump ship?

[sixstringphil]

Last night my wife called me over to the tank and said one of our six neon tetras was missing, then she gasped and pointed at something on the floor. I had left the hood open the night before, and apparently he jumped out! (or was thrown out by the others) I can't remember ever leaving the hood open like that before, but I'll definitely be more careful now. I just didn't have any reason to think they could jump out.

 

[montanafish gal]

I think given the opportunity, most any fish will try to jump. I have a small bala shark who does a nose dive onto the floor everytime he gets a chance! (kinda a dumb fish.... lol)

 

[Hebily]

IME, fish don't jump unless something is wrong in the tank (aggression, or water quality...)

 

[bazil323]

Fish will also jump if they get scared. For example, a light coming on suddenly, another fish harassing them, or a loud noise near the tank. Also, as Hebily said, fish will try to jump if water conditions are bad.

But then, there are also some that just like jumping.

 

[Wycco]

A long finned Danio jumped out onto the floor when I was first introducing them.

A Corydora jumped out of his bag straight into the tank.

But the most amusing was I used to have 2 Chinese algae eaters. Agressive things they were. One day I only had one. Assumed the big one had eaten the smaller one.

Looked around- saw no signs of jumping.

Years later moved to the US- in moving the furniture found a mumified algae eater... he wasn't eaten after all!

 

[sixstringphil]

Water conditions seem fine. Maybe something scared him out.

 

[markdudley]

I have had a glowlight tetra jump before. Water conditions seemed fine, but he wanted to be free.

 

[tanker]

Both my tanks are "topless" for the extra light. I have had my Golden Barbs jump and hit the light, and once I heard a splash and looked around the tank to find one of my Bleeding Hearts on the floor (was save and is still doing fine).
So, yes, fish do jump for no reason.

 

[customdrum]

i have had my brass tetras chase each other around and 1 jump out the tank. luckly the dog saw it and i got the fish in the tank quick so hes still fine.

 

[jptjpt]

A while back, I was making the rounds before turning in for the night. I saw something on the carpet next to my tank and thought it was a piece of paper trash so I kicked it with my bare foot. Turns out it was one of my CPDs. Got it back in the tank but it was covered in some carpet fibers. It went belly up next morning. It was out of the water too long, I guess. I didn't kick it that hard, really.