Fish disappearing

[miracles38]

I have had 2 fish disappear in the last few weeks. Normally, I would think that they just died, but these have been very healthy fish that I have had for 2 years. It has been one male ocellaris clown and yesterday I noticed that my breeding female Bangaii is gone. Also, 2 chromis disappeared about 2 months ago. There have been no live rock additions in many, many months.

The only thing I can think of is a crab. I have not seen any, but of course that means nothing. Last night I put a tall glass leaning against a rock and put some shrimp in it. The nassarius snails loved it, but no crab this morning.

Does anyone have any ideas about this? I have a crazy schedule for the next week and can't stay up watching the tank.

Any help would be so very appreciated!

Thanks.

 

[MrMikeB]

Re: Fish disappearing

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9915575#post9915575 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by miracles38
I noticed that my breeding female Bangaii is gone.
Thanks.

That is terrible! Do you still have your other tanks up and running? It might be a prudent to relocate a couple of your fish there until you can find out what is happening with your fish.

When your schedule allows you can add some 'bait' in and see if you can catch a glimpse of the culprit while your fish are safe in another system.

Quick question though, nothing sucked up in an overflow anywhere? If something did die, would your other inhabitants quickly dispose of it so that there would not be much to see?

 

[miracles38]

Hi Mike,
The overflows are covered, so not in there. If they did die, most likely they would be gone by morning. It just seems to weird that they would die for no apparent reason.

 

[Underwaterparadise]

I would bet it's a crab of some sort. I have not added anything to my tank in 6+ months and noticed the biggest crab I have ever seen in a tank before just the other day. It's claws were 1/4-1/2" wide and 1 1/2" long. I just know it has been the cause of my fish dissapearing!

 

[miracles38]

Yep, that's what I am afraid of. I will keep doing the glass trap and hope for the best unless someone has a better idea.

 

[miracles38]

Well. I found the crab tonight after the meeting. I posted a bunch of pics in the reef discussion forum thread "my fish are disappearing". Think this was the culprit? I hope so!

 

[Nuuze]

It probably was the hairy crabs. I had some that made 6 Chromis disapear from my tank when I was cycling. They come out after the lights go out...especially if you feed some filter feeding foods right before lights out then you can quickly snatch them with something.

 

[KMP]

wow! look at that fella. last live rock i bought there was a crab about that size. i thought it was some kinda sponge in a hole and was poking at it, then it fell out. it was dead already.

 

[Nu2SW]

wow thats one ugly crab, that sucks you lost your girl.


Hope you found the cause.

 

[mkent]

Very Scary looking ! Glad you got Him!

Michael

 

[miracles38]

It is still alive in its cup this morning - anyone want the clawless little bugger?

 

[MrMikeB]

Man I would love to have him, but my invert system will not be online for at least another couple of months. BTW, how do you think he was able to sneak into your reef? Thats a pretty good sized hitchhiker!

 

[miracles38]

Must have been a small bugger in the live rock. I have had most of the live rock 2 years,so plenty of time to grow.

 

[Brian Prestwood]

Nice catch Kim

 

[Justin74]

Very nice catch!
That is one sinister mister too !


-Justin

 

[boviac]

Perserverance and you got him!!! Now lets just hope it was the culprit.