Well, I went to feed my fish yesterday and noticed that the always eager and excited Firemouth was missing. I proceeded to look around the tank and then on the outside of the tank and discovered he had taken the dreaded jump. He ironically landed on a half open tropical fish book near the tank and dried up on an index page. By the time I found him he was so dried up that when I took him off part of his tail didn't come with it. The only positive thing was that I wasn't TOO attached to the fish as it was only in my possession for about three weeks. I'm sure everyone is wondering --- The escape route was between the glass tops and the back frame of the tank (about a 1/4-1/2 inch gap) by the outflow of the canister filter. I am assuming he got pushed out by one of the bigger convicts as his home was right near where he exited.
2-3 Week Old Firemouth Cichlid Suicide
- Thread starter JDC_25
- Start date
Thanks...yea he was really an exciting fish while it lasted. Does anyone know if this is typical of firemouths?
I've kept a few firemouths, 1 in a 29g and a few in a 55g, and while although they didn't seem like jumpers, they can swim and dart VERY fast. It wouldn't surprise me if one of them got scared or paniced and just jumped out of the tank.
And sorry about the Firemouth, they can be a beautiful fish
And sorry about the Firemouth, they can be a beautiful fish
I had a pair of firemouths once . . . they were settling in nicely, but one night my GF looked into the tank a little too quickly; the female freaked out and jumped right up into the glass top on the tank, *BANG*, did a few circles down to the bottom of the tank, was dead within seconds . . .
so, yes, they can be very skittish, and they will jump . . .
so, yes, they can be very skittish, and they will jump . . .
i have 1 firemouth hes a little skiddish but not jumpy. sorry to hear about your loss. i have been in the hobby around 5 years now and my only suicides have been 2 pbass but they are notorious jumpers. both the fish jumped through a 1/2" gap
