Missing fish - going crazy looking for it.

[risin]

So... I bought a "sunset fairy wrasse" almost 2 weeks ago. For the first 6 days it was very timid, hiding a lot, but eating; pretty much what I expect in a new fish. After the 6th day it disappeared I've had wrasses go missing for days before, but it's usually the second I drop them the tank. Not after seeming normal for almost a week. I've looked everywhere for hours and can't find any trace of it. I've never had a fish die before that I didn't see dead which gives me some hope that it is hiding. I didn't see any signs of aggression from the other fish.

Has anyone experienced long periods of a fish, particularly wrasses, missing? If so, how long? Anyone have experience with this particular type of wrasse?

Just a little background. The tank is well established, 150g, and I still have the first four fish I bought 8 years ago.

 

[Lauracooks]

what else lives in the tank?

 

[robthorn]

Do you have sand? I had a leopard wrasse disappear for over two weeks then pop out of the sand one day. Or look behind the tank really good. They are jumpers.

 

[luisagos]

I have a banana wrasse, that when I first got it.

It was eating like a pig for the first 5 minutes, then after that, it went into a cave and bury itself in the sand for 4 days.

It came out and been normal ever since, lol.

If I didn't see the whole thing, I would of been like you, where did it go.

 

[risin]

Sailfin,kole, orange shoulder tangs

Trio of occellaris

"False eye" wrasse

Coral beauty

Snails, couple hermits, skunk cleaner, and corals.

The only aggression I've seen is between the kole tang and the coral beauty, but nothing bad. And the clowns defend the 12" radius from their eggs.

 

[risin]

I do have sand only a couple inches but it's 3-5 inches deep in certain areas.

I have looked a lot but the gap behind the tank is very poor visibility. However the long sides of the tank are mostly covered.

I just need to find something else to distract me... Getting ridiculous hovering around the tank for hours looking in every place possible with a flash light.

 

[aguila88psi]

Sigh, most fairy wrasse are jumpers

 

[risin]

Yeah, I've been looking all around. If I never find the fish I'm going to assume it jumped and my dog ate it.

 

[albano]

What is a 'sunset fairy wrasse'?... A Pylei?

 

[snake1]

I purchased a yellow coris wrasse and the minute I placed him in the tank he darted down to the bottom in the sand and I never saw him again .....money wasted fast approx 2 seconds in the tank and 45 mins acclimating

 

[risin]

What is a 'sunset fairy wrasse'?... A Pylei?

I think so... Something like a Cebu Pyle. I haven't researched it yet and obviously a picture is out of the question.

 

[risin]

I purchased a yellow coris wrasse and the minute I placed him in the tank he darted down to the bottom in the sand and I never saw him again .....money wasted fast approx 2 seconds in the tank and 45 mins acclimating

That's what my false eye did, but he eventually turned up. I can't remember how long he was missing.

 

[luisagos]

I purchased a yellow coris wrasse and the minute I placed him in the tank he darted down to the bottom in the sand and I never saw him again .....money wasted fast approx 2 seconds in the tank and 45 mins acclimating

Theres been stories about people losing fish for years, never seeing them, then that one day they break down the tank the fish pops out alive and well.

 

[snake1]

Theres been stories about people losing fish for years, never seeing them, then that one day they break down the tank the fish pops out alive and well.

yeah that was the situation with my green clown goby he vanished, and years later during a tank move the last rock to come out of the old tank and there he was i forgot all about him.....i wish money would do that

 

[rockstar]

I got a Yellow Assessor from FAOIS back in December. I saw it the day after putting it in the tank, then it disappeared. So I figured that was more money down the tank drain. No body found either inside or outside the tank (156G). Almost two months later, it appeared briefly. I was so surprised. I now see it come out every day and it never misses a meal. It is a very nice fish, but does stay mostly in one area when it is visible.

 

[eddieford]

Fish Lost and then found in the canister filter

Fish Lost and then found in the canister filter

I once ran a canister when first starting with SW. I have a small fish go into the filter and while cleaning I was shocked to see him and then just plopped him back into the tank...

He was pretty small and hungry! But aren't all fish!

 

[m&m1318]

Sometimes they go into plumbing or the overflow boxes, what about anemones? Do u have any?

 

[risin]

I checked plumbing as best I could. I do have several GBTA but haven't known them to eat fish before. I would expect them to spit out the bones if they did eat the fish. There is a piece of PVC supporting a rock pile.... I'll have to investigate further.