Buying some killifish for your aquarium should be an excellent experience overall. Many people love buying these fish because they look great in a fish tank setting.
There are many different types of killifish to consider, too. You’ll often find killifish being sold at aquarium stores.
Before buying these fish, it’s good to learn about their needs and what to expect. One thing you might be curious about is whether these fish jump.
Are killifish known to jump out of fish tanks? Continue reading to learn everything you need to know about this topic.
Killifish Can Jump
Killifish are known for being very good jumpers. Jumping is a behavior that killifish use for survival in the wild.
Wild killifish sometimes need to jump from one pool of water to another. They’ve learned to jump out of the water and get to another body of water because they have to.
Some types of killifish are more likely to jump than others. It depends on what types of natural habitats they’re used to in the wild.
The killies that are going to jump in the wild are more likely to jump in a fish tank. It can be a bit of a problem, but you can handle this situation so long as you set the tank up properly.
How High Can Killifish Jump
You might be surprised to hear that killifish can jump quite high. An adult killifish can potentially jump fifteen inches into the air.
This is a serious problem when you’re trying to keep killifish in your tank. All of the popular types of killifish that people like to buy for their fish tanks are known jumpers.
You need to be ready for killifish to jump no matter what type you choose to buy. This will happen when you own clown killifish, golden wonder killifish, and more.
Since these fish can jump so high, it’s easy for them to get out of the tank. You need to be careful to set things up to keep the fish from being able to get out of the tank.
Killifish Jumping Out of the Tank
What if you notice that a killifish has jumped out of a tank? You found a dead killifish on the floor near your aquarium, and you want to keep it from happening again.
The first thing to know is that you should keep a cover on the fish tank. Since these fish are jumpers, you need to keep them in the tank by making it impossible to jump out.
It’s not wise to utilize a partial hood or anything like that. If you leave any gaps at the top of the fish tank, it’s likely that the killifish will find a way to jump out.
Some say that killifish can jump through very small gaps. So be careful and make sure that you use a lid that covers the entire tank properly.
If a killifish jumps out of the tank, it isn’t likely going to survive. Even if you’re right there to put it back in the water, it’s likely that the fish will injure itself by falling to the floor.
The fish jump so high into the air that the distance to the floor will be quite a drop. To keep your killifish alive, you need to prevent them from jumping out in the first place.
Why Do Killifish Jump Out of the Tank?
Why do killifish try to jump out of the tank? Is it a sign that something is wrong with the water?
It’s thought that some killifish are more likely to jump than others. You learned earlier that killifish are known to jump from one body of water to another in the water.
Some killifish live in shallow pools, puddles, and rivers. They will sometimes need to jump to get to different pools of water for survival purposes.
Wild killifish are more likely to jump than captive-bred killifish. So you should have a better experience if you purchase captive-bred killifish.
There are other reasons why killifish might jump out of the tank besides being caught in the wild. You might see that killifish will jump when they aren’t happy in the tank.
Several things can cause killifish to become unhappy with the environment in the fish tank. You could have them in a community tank that’s overcrowded.
Overcrowded fish tanks are stressful for fish to deal with. There’s even the possibility that the killifish are being bullied by their tank mates.
Another possibility to consider is that you’re not feeding them well. Are you feeding the fish properly?
Perhaps you’re not giving them food often enough. Or you might not be feeding the fish the right type of food.
The water parameters might be wrong as well. If the pH balance and water temperature aren’t quite right, the killifish might try to jump out of the tank to seek water that is closer to what they need.
Remember that the fish has no idea that there’s no water outside of the tank. They jump, hoping to find a different body of water and then wind up falling to their deaths.
Keeping the fish tank clean is important as well. When the water in the tank gets dirty, it’ll make it hard for the fish to live.
You should be doing regular water changes and cleaning the tank at regular intervals. When you don’t keep up with tank maintenance, it’ll cause the fish stress and make them more likely to jump.
Keep all of this information in mind so you can make good choices. You can protect your fish if you do your best to cover the tank and keep the fish happy.
Final Thoughts
Be careful when caring for killifish in your fish tank. These fish are excellent jumpers that are known to jump very high into the air.
They can escape the fish tank by jumping out of it. Since they’re known for jumping, it’s not wise to keep them in open tanks.
You’ll have a better experience if you keep them in tanks with a lid. Use a lid that covers the entire tank so the fish won’t be able to jump out.
It’s also best to keep the fish tank in good condition. You need to monitor the water parameters and do your best to make the fish comfortable in the aquarium.
Don’t overcrowd the tank by putting too many fish inside. Never put incompatible tank mates together in a community tank.
Feed your fish well and make sure that they stay healthy. If you do all of this, the fish will be less likely to jump.
Jeff has always enjoyed having pets, but as a child, he was drawn to his family’s fish tank. Being able to maintain a small ecosystem and observe the behaviors and interactions in the underwater world peaked his interest early on and has kept him hooked until this day. On Avid Aquarist, Jeff shares everything he’s learned about helping aquatic life survive and thrive in a home aquarium.