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There are, as experienced aquarists are aware, various fish species that present aquarium maintenance problems from the standpoint of their propensity to engage in aerial excursions, and I thought I'd devote some space to these in my latest offering. The other maintenance requirements of these fishes vary, as they hail from a diverse range of natural habitats, but they all have one thing in common - they JUMP. And consequently, they all MUST be kept covered!

Remember that many fishes have the capability of jumping, especially fast-moving, torpedo-shaped species - I have had the occasional Rummy-Nosed Tetra decide to launch itself into the air, although in fairness this is likely to be the result of a sudden panic brought upon by such unwelcome (and cruel) interventions as glass-tapping, or a sudden "lights on/lights off" shock. The fishes mentioned here in this topic, however, are jumpers by reputation, launching themselves skywards seemingly on a whim, and leaving these species uncovered should be considered careless and negligent.

Characins And Allies

Among the jumpers in this group of fishes are such fishes as [Alestes longipinnis, the African Longfin Tetra (which may have been renamed as Brycinus longipinnis). Also, and this should come as no surprise, given that it breeds by jumping out of water and laying its eggs on the underside of plant leaves (!), is Copella arnoldi, the Splashing Tetra. Also in the category of "obvious" jumpers are the Hatchet Fishes, which are really fresh-water flying fishes, and consequently possess truly astonishing aeronautical abilities in relation to their small size. Among the bigger Characins, the Genus Leporinus consists entirely of rocket-propelled jumpers, the venerable Innes book containing a remarkable anectdote about Leporinus fasciatus that illustrates both its hardiness and its ICBM-like launch capabilities, which I shall quote here:

An incident in the Battery Park Aquarium in New York will demonstrate both [its acrobatics and its toughness]. One of them jumped obliquely upward a distance of 5 feet, landing in a marine aquarium of a different temperature. After several hours it was returned undamaged to its own tropical fresh-water aquarium.

Also in the category of fish 'missiles' are Prochilodus insignis, the members of the Genus Distichodus (these African Characoids are, again, effectively ICBM missiles with scales, a 10-inch specimen can propel itself a long way once it is of a mind to), and the members of the Family Citharinidae. All of these can be expected to catch the unprepared on the hop and launch themselves skywards as if powered by Space Shuttle boosters!

Cyprinids

The Genus Esomus may not be frequently encountered, but when it is, its members are attractive fishes. However, Esomus danricus is known commonly as the Flying Barb, and has wing-like pectorals that leave the aquarist in no doubt as to its abilities. Esomus species actually make fairly good community residents alongside medium-sized Barbs and similar fishes, and breed in a similar manner, but their aerobatic capabilities are considerable, and they should be watched VERY carefully during routine aquarium maintenance!

Catfishes

Most Catfishes are bottom dwellers, but one or two of the larger ones can prove to be surprising, if occasional, jumpers. Big Pims such as various Shovelnoses can sometimes catch their keepers by surprise. However, in all fairness, some of them are more likely to stick their noses out of the water and tap their keepers on the shoulder with their barbels begging to be fed, as in the case of one Leiarus pictus mentioned in Practical Fishkeeping!

One fish that should be regarded as a potential bad jumper, though, especially if bought without due care and attention (as all too many specimens of this species are) is Pangasius sutchi, the Iridescent Shark. This is a large (3 feet or more) shoaling catfish, which is all too often bought as a lone individual and placed in an aquarium too small for its needs. You too would want to escape that kind of confinement, and as this fish is active, a fast swimmer and superbly streamlined for the purpose, it should come as no surprise that it can jump. And if kept badly, it usually will. A jumping Pangasius is often a sign that it is NOT happy in the aquarium. Kept in large quarters, with companions of its own species, and allowed to reach something approaching its natural size, in sympathetically furnished surroundings ( this is one of those species that should be given 'crash barriers' of robust plants at the back and sides of the aquarium to prevent it dashing itself against the sides if it panics), Pangasius should be fairly well behaved, but be advised that it is a somewhat panicky catfish, and may decide to take the aerial route if all others seem closed off.

Killifishes

The Cyprinodontidae provides the aquarist with several notorious jumpers, and almost all of them fall into the 'deceptive' category - they fool the unwary aquarist into dropping his or her guard by moving around in a sluggish, desultory fashion, only to decide suddenly that an airborne excursion is a good idea. The Genus Rivulus is a case in point: all of these fishes are powerful acrobats, and some even manage short overland excursions in swampy habitats when their current pool of water proves to be not to their liking. Their movements when performing such journeys are ungainly-looking, but successful in a utilitarian sort of way. Rivulus are the fish world's "Velcro Jumpers" - they will sometimes leap out of the water, and stick to cover glasses or the aquarium sides for several seconds, this presumably being an excellent means of fooling aquatic predators, who give up the chase and seek something less troublesome to catch. Rivulus are also noted for climbing out of water for short periods onto floating leaves, and if given floating plants in the aquarium, will startle unwary keepers by doing this - they are capable of surviving out of water for a surprising length of time!

Also among the bad jumpers is the Blue Gularis, Aphyosemion sjoestedti, one of the most notorious of all jumping fishes, and very definitely one of the 'deceivers', being for most of the time a slow mover that all of a sudden, seemingly on a whim, will launch itself like the Millennium Falcon jumping into hyperspace. There are several other members of the Genus Aphyosemion that will jump too, almost all of them being members of the grouping termed "Fundulopanchax" by Innes in his venerable tome: this includes Aphyosemion gulare, the Yellow Gularis, and the reclassified Roloffia occidentalis, the Golden Pheasant.

Likewise, the surface dwelling killies are noted aeronauts, particularly the likes of Epiplatys chaperi, Epiplatys chevalieri and Pachypanchax playfairii, this latter species having additional disadvantages such as a nasty temperament. If the fish is torpedo-shaped, with a flattened profile to the upper body, dwells near the surface and swims actively, assume it will jump. This includes the Rocket Panchax, Epiplatys annulatus, which even has a tail shaped and coloured like a rocket flame - regard this as a warning that this tiny Killie can blast off with alacrity if the mood takes it!

Livebearers

I use this term generically here to encompass a range of families, not just the Poeciliidae (which has few jumpers with a notorious reputation, if any). However, the Four Eyed Fish, Anableps anableps, is an accomplished acrobat, as befits a surface dweller that pursues live insects on the wing when juvenile! Likewise, other insect eatng fishes such as the Halfbeak, Dermogenys pusilus being a case in point, will also jump, especially if the diligent aquarist goes to the trouble of recreating both a naturalistic aquarium habitat and a natural diet of live insects, upon which these fishes prosper enormously. Other related Halfbeaks such as Nomorhamphus celebensis (featured in a 'special' in one of my 1970's TFH back numbers) are less likely to jump, as they will occupy midwater preferentially and visit the surface primarily to feed, but even these should be treated with suspicion and regarded as potential jumpers in the same class.

Assorted Oddballs

First among these is Pantodon buchholzi, the Freshwater Butterfly Fish. Hardly surprising, as it is a freshwater flying fish, which in the wild can pursue live insects on the wing, and snap them out of the air for food! Another of those fishes that spends long periods of time seemingly moving little if at all, only to catch the unwary aquarist by surprise and suddenly leaping 6 feet or more, which is WELL within the remit of this superb jumper.

Less spectacularly acrobatic (but only marginally so, and thus to be watched with care), are the assorted species of Mudskipper (Genus Periophthalmus). These walking fishes are usually kept in a paludarium anyway, but anyone who has seen their ability to escape predation in the wild, leaping from mangrove root to mangrove root, will be aware that Mudskippers are exceptional acrobats, and display a gymnastic ability over land that is the envy of several true land animals, Man included!

Archer Fishes are also in need of covering, but again, these are usually kept in a special tall aquarium, half-filled, with above-water arrangements of branches to provide them with a 'gunnery range' for their unique talent of shooting down insects. They are, however, accomplished jumpers, and sometimes demonstrate this by not waiting for the freshly shot-down fly or beetle to hit the water before swallowing it! In their own specialist aquarium, arranged as cited above, jumping is unlikely to prove a problem, but if kept in a more conventional aquarium alongside other brackish fishes, they will need to be covered.

Also among the acrobats, and in this case spectacularly so, are the Arowanas, Osteoglossum bicirrhosum and Osteoglossum ferreira. Remember that not only do these 'Jurassic' fishes reach 3 feet in length, but that they can leap out of water in their native habitat to pluck fruit from overhanging tree branches, and have even been reputed to snatch small birds out of the air! A fully grown specimen leaping across the living room is NOT something that the average aquarist is well equipped to deal with, not least because at three feet in length, a fully-grown one will weigh over 20 pounds, and when it lands, will do so with the impact of an artillery shell. Although its excursions are likely to be truly vertical, if it misjudges even slightly and its take-off is oblique, bear in mind that it is capable of breaking through a living room window ...

Other 'Jurassics' that are known and accomplished jumpers are the Bichirs of the Genus Polypterus, and the related Reed Fish, Erpetoichthys calabaricus. Not only are these fishes capable of sizeable leaps, but their aquaria need weighted lids, as they are sometimes ornery enough to try and crash through the aquarium hood in a bid to explore the wider world. The Reed Fish is particularly notorious for this, and will also try and escape through tiny gaps if its home is not to its liking. These are powerfully muscular fishes, with heavy ganoid scales, and when they decide to launch, they become the fish equivalent of an anti-tank missile, with a similar armour-piercing capability in flight! An aquarium hood for these fishes needs to be of robust construction, weighted down, or better still, fitted with some means of bolting it to the aquarium. Consequently, cover glasses should be acrylic (less catastrophic than glass if the fish tries to crash through it), and light fittings should be protected against 'missile launches' to avoid the disaster that will ensue if a Bichir accidentally head-butts a fluorescent tube.

Closing Remarks

In general, if a fish species is a surface dweller, has a natural diet that includes flying insects, or some other motivation for jumping (such as the Splashing Tetra's remarkable breeding gymnastics), then assume that it will, and cover accordingly. If it has anatomical adaptations for flight, such as the Hatchet Fishes, then you can be cast-iron certain that it WILL jump, and should be kept VERY securely covered indeed!

For those aquarists who want acrobatic fishes, however, the above Baedecker Tour of jumping fishes should provide inspiration. How about providing a special aquarium for Hatchet Fishes that allows them to fly safely? A long, fairly deep aquarium, filled to just two-thirds capacity, with space above the water into which assorted small flying insects can be introduced - then sit back and watch the Hatchet Fishes go to work! Or a similar version, scaled up (pardon the pun!) for Pantodon buchholzi? For the aquarist with a penchant for gymnastic fishes, and the required dedication, the jumping fishes' aerobatics can become a feature rather than a liability, but as always (and yes, I'm back to that familiar theme) this requires planning and forethought. But I suspect, for example, that keeping Hatchet Fishes in such a manner as to allow them their aerial excursions in safety, will add an extra dimension to their charm to those who already have an attraction for them. I do not, however, recommend this approach with Arowanas in the home ...

Enjoy!



Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002