CatladyDane

So much has changed in fishkeeping since the "olden days" of the '70s & '80s. Other than for light and to keep fish from jumping out, what is the purpose of the aquarium hood? I've noticed that I now see only full hoods, whereas one used to have the option of screen. (Some people even used none - hatchet fish jump!) As one who lives with open windows whenever possible, I would think that having at least part of the hood screened instead of solid would be better for ventilation, allowing more fresh air to get to the water surface. Screen will also allow evaporation out, as opposed to condensation that will accumulate like it does in the shower or drip back in, which may not be wanted if it contains bad nasty substances.

Lucy

Hi, welcome to FishLore
Good question, my first thought would be to keep dust out. This is beneficial to such fish as bettas who need to come up for air.

voiceless_kat

We have full hoods(2) on the 55g and also a wooden canopy over the whole thing. I have 4 curious cats ( I see your name includes cats - lol) and was worried they would jump up. I would think they also help with evaporation.

We never saw a problem.....guess what happened one night when I couldn't sleep and went out to read. I heard a noise...looked up, and this is what I saw...

I took the pics with the flash on, the room was dark . Neat how the red eye tetras eyes reflect - lights were off in the tank.

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CatladyDane

Great pictures Lucy & voiceless_kat! I failed to think of cat-proofing, although I automatically cat-proof almost everything in my world. Yes, I have always had cats, sometimes dogs (currently one part-time elderly Rottweiler), and assorted other visitors with or without invitation. Wild baby possums should stay outside; had to evict the same one twice last spring! I did put the aquarium on a heavy, solid wood table, wider than it is to allow work surface and safety from passers-by of all species (although I find humans to be clumsier than any on four feet). Thank you.

COBettaCouple

LOL.. Love the pics.

sirdarksol

Not every tank has hoods. I have seen some beautiful open-topped reef tanks.
But yeah, keeping fish, moisture, and heat in, and keeping cats and dust out are all reasons to have hoods. My cats think that I put the hoods on the tanks so they have an easier place to hunt from.

voiceless_kat

Lady at LFS today told me her cat knows how to get the lid off ( not the canopy, but the plastic one) and yesterday flipped a fish out and her dog ate it!!! I would cry.....but it is kinda funny.

SereneReyn

my cat went fishing from time to time when i had a plastic hood. took me a while to figure out where they were disappearing to, til one day i saw her doing it.

COBettaCouple

What a partnership!

MissMTS

My cats love to sit on top of my 40 gallon tank and look down at the fishies through the glass hood. One time, my kitten didn't realize that the lid was off (I was feeding the fish) and he jumped up........and landed in the water! I grabbed him out and dried him off, but he ALWAYS uses caution when climbing up there now

COBettaCouple

I think he probably scared himself out of a couple lives!

Phishies Inn

I definitely use a glass canopy to cut down on evaporation on my 55 - otherwise my bedroom would become a musty swamp! :P

sirdarksol

On the one hand, it's kind of sad, on the other, it's pretty funny, and on the third hand, that's a pretty impressive hunting task (opening the hood then scooping a fish out). I'd bet that, if that happens enough, the fish will only eat the flakes while they're sinking.

MissMTS

Yeah, I think so too. He is a young kitten, so I guess that experience qualified as his first bath too!