Missing Fish??????????????

[milkdud316]

i have a 72 gallon oceanic bowfront saltwater setup, its been going for 2 and 1/2 months, i have approximately 35 lbs of lbs live rock, 4 peppermint shrimp, 1 banded coral shrimp, maybe 20 blue leg hermit crabs, and maybe 5 scarlet reef crabs, 1 four striped damselfish, 2 yellowtail damselfish, and 1 royal gramma, the royal gramma was in the tank for 3 days, it was eating well and everything, the 3 dameslfish have been in the tank for a month and a half, with the exception of one 4 striped that never really ate and died after like 3 or 4 days, 1 of the yellowtails and the royal gramma, have been missing for 3 or 4 days, i havn't seen them around floating dead or nething, the guy that set up and maintains my tank says my water is testing out perfectly almost, ne suggestions of what has happened or what i might be doing wrong, just wanna see what's up before i add nething else to my tank

 

[Z-ReefKeeper]

If the fish died the crabs and shrimp might have taken care of the remains for you. As far as why they might have died that is a tough call. What were the water parameters? The "almost" comment would make me nervous. You might want to check them yourself before adding anything else to the tank. Also try a different fish store and when picking the fish out look to see that the fish are eating, are alert, and have nice color.

Good Luck

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

my guess would be they fought and killed then the cleanup crew took care of the rest. i don't think your water parameters would have been the prob. unless they were really bad as damsels can go through a cycle and survive. also check the overflow and sump if you have one or behind the tank. may have went carpet surfing if got scared.

 

[Scuba Oz]

I wouls agree that if a death has occured, the crabs and shrimp would make short order of the remaines, but as for the Royal Gramma, I would not give up on him since you stated he was new, they will hide for days on end until they get hungry or un stressed. My last one hid for a week, I wrote him off as dead and one night I was feeding he flew out for some grub