I didn't know that plecos were escape artists!

just wait until you find a $50 6" gold nugget on the floor - talk about heartbreak!

plecos will jump - just put a cover on and pray. Sometimes, though, they'll get through...just a fact of life....
 
The middle plastic brace on my tank use to support the class lids broke about a year and a half ago and since then, I have left the tank wide open on top. Just a few months ago my common pleco died, but I never experienced any problems of them trying to escape. I just added a new common a few days ago with 2 albino bristlenose plecos on the way...I'm going to keep a close eye on these guys and their closeness to the top of the tank.
 
I have a common pleco in my 55g but it's covered with light basically. Every once in a while I'll hear the pleco hit the light reflector after it shoots up to the surface. I don't think its trying to jump out though
 
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