my pair of flame wrasses jumped...through 1/4" bird netting! is it possible?

[launchnukes]

I was upstairs watching tv, came down to feed the fish. look on top of the tank to see my 3 1/4" - 3 1/2" male flame wrasse lying on top of the bird netting on top of my tank dead. still wet, i must have just missed him :( . 2 days later i'm in the kitchen and hear a quiet splat. i almost didn't think anything of it but, i walked over to the tank to see if anything happened and there is my 2 1/2" female lying on the floor. I was about to put her in the tank but i decided to try a little test first. i put her head first through the netting and she fit through but it was a pretty snug fit.

i guess i know it's possible for the female to fit, but it would have had to have been a perfect jump. but my question is could a 3 1/4" flame wrasse make the jump through 1/4" bird netting or did he make a one in a million jump through the 1 1/2" hole in the top of the bracing of the tech tank and bounce off the fan and land on the bird nettiing? (because that's the only other hole in the top of the tank).

the reason i ask is because i just ordered a replacement but i dont want him to have the same fate. and i'd like to avoid as much damage to the wallet as possible.

http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz138/usaauto123/02top.jpg

[Shane Hoffman]

I would go with the one in a million jump. If that hole is the only hole he can fit through that had to be his point of exit. Fish have pretty good eye site when looking up. I would cover that hole.

[tkeracer619]

They have good eyes and will hit those spots but I think it probably could fit given the force they jump out with and how easy that mesh stretches.

I made the same type cover but used metal grating. I zip tied the mesh to a diy screen window kit and then sprayed down the thing with about 4 coats of white appliance epoxy spray paint.

[goochesfish]

You should use gutter guard, the holes are smaller.

[lordofthereef]

"my pair of flame wrasses jumped...through 1/4" bird netting! is it possible?"

I think you answered your own question here, no? ;)

In any case, I would fix the hole that is there too. I think this happens pretty frequently where fish make that "one in a million" jump."

[launchnukes]

thanks for the replies guys.

I would go with the one in a million jump. If that hole is the only hole he can fit through that had to be his point of exit. Fish have pretty good eye site when looking up. I would cover that hole.

the hole is actually a little smaller than 1 1/2" plus a 1/4 of it was covered by the top but i have covered it completely since then. also, i never knew that fish looked for holes to jump through. i guess i never really thought of it though.

They have good eyes and will hit those spots but I think it probably could fit given the force they jump out with and how easy that mesh stretches.

I made the same type cover but used metal grating. I zip tied the mesh to a diy screen window kit and then sprayed down the thing with about 4 coats of white appliance epoxy spray paint.

that sounds like a good idea. how big are the holes in the grating. does it block alot of light? do you have any pictures?

You should use gutter guard, the holes are smaller.

isn't gutter guard usually thick? what kind did you use? does it seem to block light?


In any case, I would fix the hole that is there too. I think this happens pretty frequently where fish make that "one in a million" jump."