Jumping Goby

[frankthetank]

My 46g is just about full with fish but my gf wanted to buy a orange spotted goby we saw at the lfs. I decided, what the hell, I can fit one more goby into the tank. He does a terrific job of sifting the sand so he could be beneficial to the tank.
Well, the next morning after putting him in the tank we couldn't find him. Problem was, we were looking in the wrong spot. Instead of looking in the tank we should have been looking on the floor. He must have jumped over night and was of course dead.
I took him back to the lfs and with some bitching and moaning got a replacement. I've heard of some gobies jumping, but I have never owned one that actually did jump. So the replacement is in, and already I've head him jumping around 3 or 4 times... even splashing me with water once.
Is this an ongoing problem? Does it stop at some point (if I'm lucky enough that he survives that long)?
It seems so weird for a goby to jump when they spend so much time at the bottom of the tank.
I just know I'm going to wake up in the morning and find him on the floor dead too.

 

[tiberius]

Originally Posted by FranktheTank
My 46g is just about full with fish but my gf wanted to buy a orange spotted goby we saw at the lfs. I decided, what the hell, I can fit one more goby into the tank. He does a terrific job of sifting the sand so he could be beneficial to the tank.
Well, the next morning after putting him in the tank we couldn't find him. Problem was, we were looking in the wrong spot. Instead of looking in the tank we should have been looking on the floor. He must have jumped over night and was of course dead.
I took him back to the lfs and with some bitching and moaning got a replacement. I've heard of some gobies jumping, but I have never owned one that actually did jump. So the replacement is in, and already I've head him jumping around 3 or 4 times... even splashing me with water once.
Is this an ongoing problem? Does it stop at some point (if I'm lucky enough that he survives that long)?
It seems so weird for a goby to jump when they spend so much time at the bottom of the tank.
I just know I'm going to wake up in the morning and find him on the floor dead too.
Please put glass tops on the tank or egg crate. I think it is cruel to buy something knowingly that it will end up on the floor again.

 

[frankthetank]

I really didn't knowingly buy the fish thinking he would jump. Like I said, I have never had a goby jump out of a tank before... and I've had gobys off and on for my 12 years in the hobby.

 

[frankthetank]

And to conclude this thread, the goby jumped sometime between midnight and 1:48am. Dead.
I have owned twin spotted gobys, banded sleeper gobys, and yellow watchmans... I have never had one jump.
Anyone have experience on these? Is it just this particular goby (orange spotted)?
What's the deal?

 

[puffer32]

My firefish gobie jumped out of my tank, and i never saw it near the top of the tank, so yes, gobies can jump, especially when first introduced to a tank.

 

[ninjamini]

In the ocean there is alot more water for them to swim in. So in a tank when they get enough speed and just the right angle...they can take flight.

 

[alyssia]

Originally Posted by Tiberius
Please put glass tops on the tank or egg crate. I think it is cruel to buy something knowingly that it will end up on the floor again.

Eggcrate is much better than glass.

 

[tiberius]

Originally Posted by FranktheTank
I really didn't knowingly buy the fish thinking he would jump. Like I said, I have never had a goby jump out of a tank before... and I've had gobys off and on for my 12 years in the hobby.
Yes, but you replaced it with another one. That is what I meant about knowingly. Not that you knew on the first one. Please cover the tank with egg crate. :happyfish

 

[frankthetank]

Originally Posted by Tiberius
Yes, but you replaced it with another one. That is what I meant about knowingly. Not that you knew on the first one. Please cover the tank with egg crate. :happyfish
Never.

 

[peckhead]

Originally Posted by FranktheTank
Never.

why?

 

[tiberius]

Originally Posted by FranktheTank
Never.
Really. Why? If you don't cover the tank with egg crate or glass then you really shouldn't get the fish that tend to jump. Why waste the money.