Help me solve a mystery :)

[props4you]

My diamond goby dissappeared.
Didn't think to much about it, stuff happens.
Bought another one he's been in the tank about 3 months
totally normal eating and sifting. A few days ago I noticed he is gone.
All the other fish are healthy happy most are long term residents.
Tank has a canopy, over flows are covered.
I did find a claw a month or so ago from a crab at the time I thought
It was a reminant from a Emerald crab I use to have. He got to big so I gave
him to the LFS. Of course now I'm wondering where the claw came from.

At this point I think it would be irresponsible of me to put another one in
without trying to figure out where these guys are disappearing to.

Any thoughts would be appreciated

 

[Biggar]

Do you have a carpet anemone? They can eat whole fishes

 

[ReeferBill]

Check the floor again around your set up . No luck then maybe a crab , I had a crab that use to pull fish into a hole in the rock at night but when I tried to pull a fish out of the rock their it was holding on to its catch.

 

[nitroreef]

Any Green serpent stars ?

 

[nivram]

What did the claw look like? I didn't know I had a bad crab until I found a molt. It was a large gorilla crab and I believe was responsible for some fish disappearances.

 

[props4you]

Do you have a carpet anemone? They can eat whole fishes

No carpet anemone Mike.

BTW, been meaning to thank you.

You posted about TDS in your holding containers and it got me thinking.
So I checked mine and I found two issues.
One of the Brute can was leaching so I got rid of it BUT the surprising thing to me was I checked the Dixie cups I was thawing my food in and I was shocked to find out my RO/DI water goes in at 0 and just a few minutes later (no food in the cup just the water) it goes up to 6.
So everyday I was adding phosphates into my tank.....Grrrrr !

Thank you for making me think

 

[Gumpy]

Do you have a green brittle star? We were losing fish until we got rid of that assassin.

 

[props4you]

What did the claw look like? I didn't know I had a bad crab until I found a molt. It was a large gorilla crab and I believe was responsible for some fish disappearances.

Well, now that you say that....
I think it had black tips.
Omg, I just google it, it's a Gorilla claw for sure.
He must be getting big if he is eating whole fish and I've noticed a few snail shells around as well.

Geez, never a dull moment !!
How am I gonna find him ?

 

[props4you]

Do you have a green brittle star? We were losing fish until we got rid of that assassin.

No Brittle star

 

[smsadmin]

How established is your system? Diamond goby's need an established sand bed IME. Just because you don't find a body doesn't mean he jumped, our CUCs can make a body disappear very quickly!

 

[props4you]

How established is your system? Diamond goby's need an established sand bed IME. Just because you don't find a body doesn't mean he jumped, our CUCs can make a body disappear very quickly!

4+ years
I don't think he jumped. Would be near impossible for him to jump out
Evidence is pointing towards the Gorilla Crab

 

[nivram]

Well, now that you say that....

I think it had black tips.

Omg, I just google it, it's a Gorilla claw for sure.

He must be getting big if he is eating whole fish and I've noticed a few snail shells around as well.



Geez, never a dull moment !!

How am I gonna find him ?

Honestly I don't remember lol. Check your acros and any nooks and crannies in your live rock.

Are the snell shells all found in one area?

Try searching at night with a flash light.

 

[mrx66699]

You posted about TDS in your holding containers and it got me thinking.
So I checked mine and I found two issues.
One of the Brute can was leaching so I got rid of it BUT the surprising thing to me was I checked the Dixie cups I was thawing my food in and I was shocked to find out my RO/DI water goes in at 0 and just a few minutes later (no food in the cup just the water) it goes up to 6.
So everyday I was adding phosphates into my tank.....Grrrrr !

never just thaw frozen food in a cup or bowl and just dump it in ...right before your ready to feed just put the mysis if your feeding mysis in a small net and run it in the sink under hot and it will rinse it and thaw it out in just seconds....one tip run the cold for a second or two last so it cools the food off my hot side will burn your hands so imagine a hungry fishes mouth lol....

 

[Tpr1]

Most of these crabs come out at night. You might want to check with a flashlight after the lights have been out for awhile.

 

[props4you]

never just thaw frozen food in a cup or bowl and just dump it in ...right before your ready to feed just put the mysis if your feeding mysis in a small net and run it in the sink under hot and it will rinse it and thaw it out in just seconds....one tip run the cold for a second or two last so it cools the food off my hot side will burn your hands so imagine a hungry fishes mouth lol....

Thanks Matt

I was using the Dixie cup to thaw and rinse the food.
I put the mysis in the cup with some RO/DI water when thawed,
I would fill and drain the cup a few times with the ro/di to further rinse.
No more "dixie cups" using a small glass now.
Be careful with that hot water. Mysis are tiny they cook up quick...lol

 

[treetopflyn]

TNo more "dixie cups" using a small glass now.

I use a small hand held strainer and just run tapwater over the food until it thaws.