How long can a fish live in your overflow ?

[Authentic]

My salon fairy wrasse keeps jumping into my overflow,its a pain getting him out,and should I cover my overflow?if he jumped I would be concerned I'd find him on top of whatever I used....thinking its bet err to let him land in the water.

[anbosu]

I have a clownfish that has been in one of mine for months. I've tried numerous times to get him out but he is very good at hiding from me.

[RayL]

I once had a baby clown go into my overflow and down the pipe to the sump, I found him swimming around and I got him right back into the tank just to find him back in the overflow the next day. It's very annoying to keep catching fish in the over flow. I have covered my overflow but still found a neon goby in it after being covered. Tried my best to get him out but couldn't, unfortunately I think I lost him after 3 days of being in there

[gmigmi]

small damsel, 2 years +

[ccloveraz]

Bangaii Cardinal for 9-12 Months. Actually ate pellets and flake when it came out!

[gsiegel]

small damsel, 2 years +

Probably better off having the damsel in isolation.

I had the same issue with a clown and a goby and covered my overflow. They would go into the overflow and then down into the sump like with RayL's tank - I think they thought it was like a fun water slide at an amusement park.

[Dmorty217]

The fish could live there it's lifespan or the tanks lifespan if the fish gets enough food

[insaneDynamix]

I have a pair of O Clowns ... One jumped into the overflow ... The other observed him for a day and then followed suit ...And well just when i thought of what a pain it would be to fish em out ... the carpenter wwrasse went in next. I felt like just keeping the overflow and letting go of the tank

They were there for a week
Took me hours to net them ... I havent had anymore jumps though