Keeping fish as pets is not an easy experience. We need to maintain water, quality, a good aeration system, provide a good quality of food to fish, and even monitor fish behavior. People often need to look out for these things and possibly many other things to keep fish as pets.
However, even after you cater to all their needs, you might find your fish jumping out of the tank. This might make you wonder why fish even do this. Well, the answer to this is not that simple. Some people have the opinion that fish jump out of the tank to escape their predators. Although this might be one of the reasons, it is not the sole cause of this behavior. Some people even assume that they jump out of the tank to find food.
There are various reasons which might encourage this behavior among fish. We have covered some of the reasons in this article.
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Poor Water Quality
Fish like to live in clean and fresh water. If they find the water too dirty in the tank, they might try to get out of it. It is, therefore, important to maintain good quality water. This is also because the tank water is stagnant, unlike water in the natural habitat. The tank water, therefore, needs periodic cleaning. Change about 20 to 30% of the tank water with fresh and purified water to maintain a good atmosphere for the fish.
Oxygen Levels of Fish Tank
It is also necessary to regulate the oxygen levels in the fish tank. Similar to humans, fish also need oxygen to survive. The only difference is that fish extract oxygen from the water. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a good oxygen level in the tank for the fish to breathe. If the fish find it challenging to breathe, they may try to jump out of the tank. You can use a HOB filter or a spray bar to maintain an adequate oxygen level in the fish tank.
PH Level Imbalance
The water’s pH level is also another essential element. The pH level is a measure of how basic or acidic the water is. It ranges from 0 to 14. A pH level below 7 is considered acidic, and above 7 is considered basic. The ideal pH level for any aquatic creatures can be between 6.5 to 9. If there is an imbalance in this pH level, it might become tough for the fish to survive. Therefore, the fish might want to jump out of the tank.
Defense Mechanism
Your fish might also have the sudden urge to get out of the tank if it fears to be hunted down or if it wants to hunt. This is one of the most common reasons. It is a sort of natural defense mechanism. If the fish fears for its life, it might want to escape its predator by simply getting out of that habitat.
Fish Species
There are different species of fish that are natural jumpers. Hence, these kinds of fish jump out of the water, even in their healthy and all-natural habitat. For these kinds of fish, you can only ensure that they are safely in the tank by making sure that the tank’s lid is fastened correctly.
Final Words
Fish tend to jump out of their tanks. However, there is no one reason for this behavior. You must ensure that all of the controllable reasons are taken care of at your end. Nonetheless, suppose you find your fish jumping out of the water frequently. In that case, you might also want to ask your vet about the situation.
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