One of the saddest things are fish jumping to their death...

[Steph72]

My sweet blue spot jawfish, Sméagol, jumped out despite the fact that I had a tight fitting lid on the tank. We were devastated and shocked that he managed to jump out.

 

[WallyB]

Fish Jumps happened to me a bunch of times. (Probably 6-7) Usually during the QT stage in a 10 Gallon Tank that I try to seal as best as possible.

I try to improve things, but somehow they always find the tinest Target hole. Usually in the spot when I have a opening to put in food. Fish learn that food comes from that spot so the dumb fish made their one way trip out of the QT and on the table from there.

Egg Crate tops are not proven to work if fish is small and slender, like the a fire goby or a young wrasse.

I personally like a fine mesh (clear, Like fishing line) that's flexible for my DT. Allows me to bend/roll it away in a corner for the ODD Tank access.
I use bungy cord like strings to secure in to corners where I open up the mesh for Tank Access. The other two far corners are permanently attached.

I originally made a light removable frame for the fine mesh screening, but hated the process of removing it. Roll away corner is way better.

I hope to design a new way of installing the Mesh Screen.

Like a roller blind, so you can retract it like window blind.
Yet that may not be as safe as lifting a corner. Each time I feed my tank, my Wrasse bounces off the mesh top.

 

[Sharkbait19]

None ever jumped out for me, but I did have a firefish who managed to get into the sump once. I don’t know if that’s skill or stupidity!

 

[Sebastiancrab]

Just lost a clownfish several days ago. So I have bought a white window screen frame kit $12 and spline tool $3 from Walmart for my rimless tank. Netting and hangers are on order from BRS.

 

[wheels 45]

I start my 75 gallon cichlid tank in 2016. No lid. A few days ago I heard a flopping noise and I found my Spilonotus tanzia cichlid on the ground. I put it back in. I have been very lucky so far.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I did once have a parrot cichlid jump onto the floor for food and also some frightened betta fish who jumped out during water changes, but I always managed to pick them up and put them back. The craziest was with a big red bellied pacu...

 

[Fezbearer]

I picked up a DIY lid a couple of days before I did my initial stocking. I'm glad I did since my Carpenter's Wrasse decided to try to launch himself a couple of minutes after I put him in the tank.

 

[1Clown]

I had a pellet eating green Mandarin who went carpet surfing, was so dang mad.

 

[maroun.c]

Had 5-6 fish jumo to their death. Lineatus wrass was the worst and one jumped 4 times, 3 times I managed to find him in time and last time unfortunately he jumped behind the tank.
Even after adding a screen I had 2 fish jump while feeding and unfortunately I didn't notice so now am extra cautious at feeding time.

 

[PaulE61]

Tank tops alone don't stop jumping fish deaths. Recently a diamond goby decided to try jumping, and caught its gills in the netting. Netting is 1/2" spacing, and being replaced.

Had same fish disappear after doing some maintenance with glass lid lid off, found him just like this in bin next to tank 2 days later, only found him because the cat was showing unusual interest in the bin.