Missing and wounded

[Docbob59]

My slow stocking of the aquarium had been going good untill today. I can't locate my Mandarin Goby and my serpant star is in bad shape, missing two arms and another cut in half. I recently added two large live rocks (9 # each). I hate to think that something was hiding out .

My water parameters are good. 2 true percs and a false perc, two peppermint and 1 fire shrimp are ok. Any hints as to what might be the culprit?

Thanks
Bob T.

 

[icarus999]

errrr.... mantis shrimp maybe, going for the easier targets

 

[icarus999]

go to the specimen/predator forum for more info

 

[Docbob59]

Haven't seen or heard the dreaded "clicking" as yet and will check the predator page. Thanks for your help.

 

[icarus999]

usually the clicking comes from pistol shrimp

 

[dustybuddy]

haha. wow 8th grader. dang reefers are starting young. but mantis shrimp also click. u have to observe the tank at nite.

 

[scrmbld33]

any chance they got squished adding the rock? crabs are good at catching slow fish check after a few hours after lights off with a flash light to see if any unwanted things are around

 

[smcnally]

Mandarins can jump...Look behind your tank. Also, your tnak seems too "young" for a mandarin. You need a huge pod population to keep them alive. If you get one again, I'd wait a bit and definitely get a fuge going to grow pods in.

 

[Docbob59]

I checked everywhere for the mandarin, inside and outside the tank. He has been completely consumed or grew fish wings and fluttered away. I found whats left of my serpant star which had arms/legs? about 5" long 3 days ago and now is nothing but a nub.
Tank parameters have not changed ( spikes or excessive skimmer output.

 

[angelsj247]

you still havent found the killer?

 

[bsaastad]

Mantis and pistols both click. Pistols tend to click with a sporadic, somewhat random pattern. Mantis tend to emit more of a regular rapid fire sound. Probably not fool proof, but if you hear "click -- click,click -- -- -- click" it's probably a pistol. "clickclickclickclickclick" is probably a mantis.