eggcrate no good for jumpers

[rjs5134]

Despite the numerous posts about using eggcrate in lieu of a glass canopy, do so with caution. I finally made the change and love the look of the eggcrate and the extra light that reaches the bottom of the tank, but it was not enough to keep my blue dot jawfish from jumping. I searched for 2 days and finally found the dried body of my favorite fish and it only took him 3 days to clear the small holes of the eggcrate. I'm had concerns, but now know that jawfish, firefish and other small jumpers should only be kept with a solid top/canopy of some sort. R I P.

Rob

[Samper]

Very sorry to hear about your loss. Eggcrate has always worked for me but I have never had a jumper that was slender enough to get through the holes.

[rjs5134]

Thanks Samper, guess I'm going to have to rule out the Helfichi's firefish in the future also. i may still take my chances and go with a purple firefish though. I hate to lose any fish, but a $20 fish is a little easier to lose than a $150 fish. Funny thing, I thought the jawfish was big enough not to fit, but I guess he just made it.

[dougc]

I had a firefish jump through eggcrate on my quarantine tank. Fortunately, I was standing right there, so I was able to scoop it up and drop it back in the tank.

I have eggcrate on the back and top of my canopy and it has stopped my fairy wrasse from death many times. The eggcrate on the back of the canopy is mounted vertically, reducing the chances that anything could hit it at just the right angle. The eggcrate on top of the cannopy is about 16" off the water. A fish would have to make a perfect vertical leap, missing the pendants and VHO lights along the way, to effect an escape.

[ret25yo]

I wish I had put my eggcrate on after I added my clown tang-- I guess they are jumpers also. .. he wiped out from carpet surfing... the most expensive fish Ive lost next to the flasher wrasse that didnt survive a move .