Clowns Missing????

[salty72]

Ok, very weird - I'm on vacation in Florida and the person house sitting said that she can't find them in the tank anywhere. They are always out and about wanting attention. Where could they have gone? Any clue what could have happened?? I have a coral beauty, 6 line wrasse, blue hippo tang and a bengal cardinal and so far there has never been any issues. I'm very concerned, and it really sucks that I'm away. I'll be home tomorrow though. Any insight would be great.
Thanks

 

[ange062]

Ok, very weird - I'm on vacation in Florida and the person house sitting said that she can't find them in the tank anywhere. They are always out and about wanting attention. Where could they have gone? Any clue what could have happened?? I have a coral beauty, 6 line wrasse, blue hippo tang and a bengal cardinal and so far there has never been any issues. I'm very concerned, and it really sucks that I'm away. I'll be home tomorrow though. Any insight would be great.
Thanks

I've seen clowns jump from tanks or jump into overflows and end up in the filter sock or sump.

 

[Manicosi]

I've seen clowns jump from tanks or jump into overflows and end up in the filter sock or sump.

+1 the overflow, sump and the floor would be the first places I would check.

 

[zeeter]

It would be weird for both clowns to have jumped. I had one jump from one tank to another before - that was around an 8 - inch jump. I was impressed. But I've never seen two clowns jump.

What kind of clowns are these? Saddlebacks can be a bit skittish.

 

[salty72]

I had my house sitter look all around on the floor and nothing. I don't have an overflow or sump or anything like that. And I'm not sure the technical name of my clowns, but they look like nemo - LOL! They are not skittish at all, they are always right in front of my trying to get my attention but do you suppose they know that it's not me and ARE hidding from Emily?? It's a 55 gallon tank, there isn't really a whole lot of places that they can BOTH be hiding in.

I was also wondering if maybe they mated and laid their eggs and are guarding them??? Do they do that?

Thanks for the replies!!

 

[ebacon]

I would wait a couple days, if you see them then all is well, if not then they for whatever reason died and the sand critters got em. But yes you could have a mated pair,

 

[flakey]

have they looked behin the tank where all the cables/equipment are? Very strange for 2 to jump but if something skooked them then it is possible. They are hopefully just hiding in the rocks.

 

[salty72]

Thought I'd send an update since you have all been so great to reply. I got home today and sadly found one of my clowns dead smoshed up against the power head I have still have NO idea what happened to the other one. But something went wrong when I was gone, because my coral beauty was not in the tank either and sadly I found him behind the tank all dried up and the hippo tang (she was a baby) is just gone. AND my cardinal is not looking good. Are the crabs eating them? The only fish left that looks fine is my six line wrasse - I've heard they are aggressive but they have all been together for months.

 

[jbax]

something definitely wrong happened while you were gone. i would check and make sure everything is working right. if anything just do a water change, with 2-3 dead fish in your tank in the last few days. your tank needs one.

 

[salty72]

Thanks - I'll do just that. I'm wondering if we lost power maybe for a while. We did have several winter storms when I was away. It just puzzzles me so that I can't find them anywhere. I do have a cat though, so I guess it's possible if they jumped out he would have eaten them. But just strange that the tang and the clown AND the coral beauty all jumped out.
Thanks for all the replies. I love being able to come to RC and find answers.

 

[flakey]

oh man... sorry to hear about the fish. It's definately strnage why so many fish would go like that. How long were you away for?
I would say the hermits would definetely eat up any dead fish that were lying around but i wouldn't put the cause down to them.
Did your friend have to add any water to the tank while you were away? May be a long shot but if they don't know anything about marine fish, would they have added hot water into the tank and heated it up too much therefore causing stress and the fish to jump? Then again, it could have been the cat getting it's paws in the tank and trying to grab the fish?

 

[dunk373]

maybe electrical short do you have the tank on a gfci with a grounding probe?

 

[jbax]

maybe electrical short do you have the tank on a gfci with a grounding probe?

yes, check for stray voltage.

did emily stick her hands in the water after putting lotion on? there are many possibilities. just make sure everything is working right and your temp is good. i know we had high wind/thunder storms here saturday night.