Suicidal fish hotline and prevention!

travis32 · 01/10/2019, 07:50 AM

O.k. So, I have a history with mentally ill fish... Some bullies, some just flat out suicidal and don't want to live anymore, thus ending their lives suddenly and most likely painfully. Such a dark subject!

On my previous 220 I must have lost 7 - 8 fish or more due to getting in the overflows and even going through the return pump, etc. I have the overflows locked down on my 340 now. YAAY! nothing is getting in those. I have to clean them frequently as they almost prevent food from going down.. But, save a fish, ride a ?? Not sure.

But, that said, I came home to two fish laying on the cement. A rock displaced in the tank. and 2 more fish missing in the tank (at least from site). Not sure if they were crushed by the rock, my dragon wrasse chased everyone around and tried eating them, or what happened. I came home to my glass covered in a film and the tank looking like ww III occurred. I suspect a fight ensued or someone got crushed by a rock and the rock fall either scared the fish or a possible spike in ammonia or something caused two jump out. The other 8 are fine, eating fine, and swimming fine.

So, I want to enact a suicide prevention hotline... More accurately a cover. over my 6ft by 3ft tank top. I've got an aquatic life fixture hanging over the top along with 3 AI Hydra (52) LED fixtures mounted in the Aquatic life fixture. I don't want to disrupt the lighting. The front top is closed by a wall/ cabinet doors. The back is wide open (for maintenance, cleaning etc) The two fish were laying behind the tank...

So, what do people do that allows light through, doesn't build up too much algae, and prevents fish from jumping out, as I have a history of this being an issue... Different fish now, different tank, same issue.

I'm debating Egg Crate over the whole thing, 2 or 3 panels. But, I'm afraid this will reduce the light too much... Is there a clear soft netting, or something like that that would allow light through but prevent this issue?

Thanks!

teddscau · 01/10/2019, 12:10 PM

I personally use Current USA with eggcrate on top of it. That way we don't have to worry about reduced lighting. You could also try putting a couple of panels of plexiglass over the tank. The light can get through, and the fish shouldn't be able to jump out. You might want to try adding more visual barriers for the fish (overhangs, caves, strategically placed macroalgae) so they can feel more secure. It's a pain in the butt when fish keep trying to kill each other, but providing a stronger sense of security should help to reduce stress in both the bullies and the victims. Could you maybe post pictures of your current setup so we can get a better idea of why your fish might be so stressed?

I have certificates in animal training, enrichment, behaviour, psychology, etc., so I might be able to help. Oh, and what do you feed them? One of the top causes of stress and behavioural issues in captive animals is due to how animals are fed.

Dean Ladd · 01/10/2019, 07:16 PM

This!

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...10&postcount=1

01/10/2019, 07:50 AM	#1
travis32 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: West Fargo, ND Posts: 2,161	Suicidal fish hotline and prevention! O.k. So, I have a history with mentally ill fish... Some bullies, some just flat out suicidal and don't want to live anymore, thus ending their lives suddenly and most likely painfully. Such a dark subject! On my previous 220 I must have lost 7 - 8 fish or more due to getting in the overflows and even going through the return pump, etc. I have the overflows locked down on my 340 now. YAAY! nothing is getting in those. I have to clean them frequently as they almost prevent food from going down.. But, save a fish, ride a ?? Not sure. But, that said, I came home to two fish laying on the cement. A rock displaced in the tank. and 2 more fish missing in the tank (at least from site). Not sure if they were crushed by the rock, my dragon wrasse chased everyone around and tried eating them, or what happened. I came home to my glass covered in a film and the tank looking like ww III occurred. I suspect a fight ensued or someone got crushed by a rock and the rock fall either scared the fish or a possible spike in ammonia or something caused two jump out. The other 8 are fine, eating fine, and swimming fine. So, I want to enact a suicide prevention hotline... More accurately a cover. over my 6ft by 3ft tank top. I've got an aquatic life fixture hanging over the top along with 3 AI Hydra (52) LED fixtures mounted in the Aquatic life fixture. I don't want to disrupt the lighting. The front top is closed by a wall/ cabinet doors. The back is wide open (for maintenance, cleaning etc) The two fish were laying behind the tank... So, what do people do that allows light through, doesn't build up too much algae, and prevents fish from jumping out, as I have a history of this being an issue... Different fish now, different tank, same issue. I'm debating Egg Crate over the whole thing, 2 or 3 panels. But, I'm afraid this will reduce the light too much... Is there a clear soft netting, or something like that that would allow light through but prevent this issue? Thanks!

01/10/2019, 12:10 PM	#2
teddscau Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 214	I personally use Current USA with eggcrate on top of it. That way we don't have to worry about reduced lighting. You could also try putting a couple of panels of plexiglass over the tank. The light can get through, and the fish shouldn't be able to jump out. You might want to try adding more visual barriers for the fish (overhangs, caves, strategically placed macroalgae) so they can feel more secure. It's a pain in the butt when fish keep trying to kill each other, but providing a stronger sense of security should help to reduce stress in both the bullies and the victims. Could you maybe post pictures of your current setup so we can get a better idea of why your fish might be so stressed? I have certificates in animal training, enrichment, behaviour, psychology, etc., so I might be able to help. Oh, and what do you feed them? One of the top causes of stress and behavioural issues in captive animals is due to how animals are fed. __________________ Dotty the firefish, Delilah and Little Henry Ocellaris clownfish, Pixel (convict tang) and Darwin (blue tang), pyjama cardinalfish, Riku and Kenji the orchid and elongate dottybacks, and Jeremy (yello Current Tank Info: 160g reef tank with mushrooms, leathers, zoas, SPS corals, NPS corals, firefish, a school of pyjama cardinalfish, a pair of designer Ocellaris, two tangs, a striped blenny, two dottybacks, and a watchman goby

01/10/2019, 07:16 PM	#3
Dean Ladd Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Land-Of-Oz Posts: 191	This! http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...10&postcount=1 __________________ Have Fun! Dean Current Tank Info: 135 gal reef (retired 04/2018 after 18 years) Upgrade to 215 gal DT mostly soft and lps