I know technically this is a lesson learned but it really only applies to bichir keepers. We've all heard the talk about making sure you have a good cover on your tank because our ropelike bichir friends are notorious jumpers but how good of jumpers are they really. well here's a story for you: I recently noticed that the larger of my two ornate beauties was missing. I chalked it up to my deco renovation a few days before but just to be on the safe side I checked the outside of my tank to see if he magically escaped from my tank. couldn't find him so I went to lunch. I came home and was worried sick about it so I decided to remove all my decorations and find him. Nowhere. In a completely bare tank I could only find five of my six bichirs. so I triple checked the outside of my tank and sure enough, behind some curtains, was the stiff, dead body of my ornate. the only opening on the top of the tank was about a half of an inch. on a large monitor it looks about this big <-------->. And he was a fatty too. So behold the awesome power of these little escape artists and NEVER take them for granted because I now have a 60 dollar paperweight. Here's pics!
I should probably get a tighter fitting cover