Reef tank genocide!

[Cozmo4]

So, I put 4 Bangaii Cardinals in my display a few days ago. They hung out in the top right corner until the lights went out. Then they moved to the front bottom right corner. Within 10 minutes my Mystery Wrasse ate one, came back for more and the my male Lyretail Anthias joined in on the action. Within a few minutes all 4 were eaten. :mad2: They were small...maybe 1/2 to 3/4 inch each. Is that all it is - the Cardinals were too small and they were seen as food or can Mystery Wrasses occasionally prey on other fish? If it's just the size, I may look for a few that are near full size. I hated watching that happen, not only because I hate to lose livestock, but they ended up being a $100 meal.

 

[tibob32]

ouch, I'm guessing if they had been bigger they would all have lived happily ever after

 

[L8 2 RISE]

1/2 an inch!!!??? thats TINY. and yep, thats what it was

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

I'd like to see the size of the wrasse!!!

 

[snorvich]

Mystery wrasse do what they do, and that is eat things they can fit in their mouth. Mystery wrasses also often become intolerant of conspecific tank mates. No mysteries here (sorry!) :fun2:

 

[Cozmo4]

I'd like to see the size of the wrasse!!!

He's probably pretty average, maybe 3.5 inches or so. You should have seen the size of his gut though after the feast. LOL.

 

[Kahuna Tuna]

Mystery wrasses also often become intolerant of conspecific tank mates. No mysteries here (sorry!)

+1 All of the lined wrasses have the ability to become very aggressive IMO. Big fish eat little fish if they can, it is indeed part of what they do.

 

[Sheol]

Sucks! But I've had that experience with a couple of attempts to add dottybacks. Too small & they just vanished.
Big fish eat little fish, or kill intruders in their homes. We all should always remember this fact.
Condolences!

Matthew

 

[KingwoodMarcia]

Somebody ate good. My trigger fish ate my cleaner wrass when I put it into the main tank. I wanted to eat the tigger after that. I just still might, when he gets bigger.

 

[snorvich]

ouch, I'm guessing if they had been bigger they would all have lived happily ever after

Actually, four of them would have reduced to two. A pair is the maximum you can have except in VERY large tanks.

 

[jt_milstead]

Survival of the fittest, and biggest....

 

[soonerfan12]

ooh i want a mystery wrasse, but now im having second thoughts

 

[Cozmo4]

ooh i want a mystery wrasse, but now im having second thoughts

Until this happened, my Mystery Wrasse has been a model citizen. It was ultimately my fault for adding such small fish to the tank. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. Some have mentioned that they can get aggressive, but I haven't experienced that at all and I've got two other wrasses in the tank (not the same type as the Mystery...have a Blue Flasher and a Melanarus).