Wrasses keep disappearing

[aandfsoccr04]

Every time I seem to add a new wrasse it disappears after a few days. I have a few that have been with me for a few years now but every time I add a new one I never see it after the first or second day. My earlei wrasse disappeared after being in the tank for several months and I thought that was odd. Then I added a mccoskers and he disappeared after 2 days. I added a pintail from divers den and he wasn't anywhere to be found after the first day. I bought a carpenters and he was only seen for a day or 2. Then I bought a linespot flasher wrasse and he was gone after 3 days. I don't understand where these fish keep going.

I have a tighly secure fitting lid with 3/4 inch brs mesh netting. I've checked the overflow and the sump with no luck. Tank is 220g with only a few other small inhabitants. I've added chromis and they are fine. I've added anthias and they are fine. I have one small bristletooth tang that I added a few weeks ago and he is fine. My filefish, sunburst anthias, borb, goby, and cleaner wrasse have all been fine. Tank has been up for 6 months or so. Any thoughts?

 

[evolved]

A predator like a Euclid worm seems plausible.

Else, you might have an intimidator which forces them into constant hiding until they wither away.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

I used all the old live rock from my 120 which I didn't have this problem for 2 years. Then I added some dry rock that sat in a box for a few months before I set the tank up. I have a vroliks wrasse, filefish, female leopard wrasse, cleaner wrasse, 2 sunbust anthias, borbonious anthia, 2 chromis, bristletooth tang, yellow watchman goby, various snails for clean up crew, and an ordinary green brittle star.

All in a 220g and hardly boisterous.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

The tank does have a very large overflow though:

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

Else, you might have an intimidator which forces them into constant hiding until they wither away.

This is possible. The clean up crew would take care of the carcass. Are you sure your leopard wrasse isn't harassing new additions?

 

[aandfsoccr04]

I very sincerely doubt it. It's a small female bipartitus that usually hides in the rock work most of the day foraging for pods. I have never noticed any aggression from that fish. It is usually being chased by a larger fish.

 

[hogfanreefer]

3/4" is plenty big enough for wrasse to jump through. Are you sure you don't mean 1/4". I'm sure you would have found something if they jumped.

How big is your Vrolik's? Is he the boss of the tank? Try using an acclimation box next addition and see if you can identify a bully. Perplexing problem.

 

[aandfsoccr04]

You're correct, I meant 1/4 inch. The vroliks is definitely the boss and is quite a big fish. I would say he's every bit of 4.5 inches if not more.

 

[ahmed_iAM]

I've heard of green serpent brittle stars eating some fish at night. Didn't believe it till I saw it a large piece of squid. Its pretty disgusting how big they get afterward

 

[eatbreakfast]

I wouldnt be surprised if the new wrasse additions are being harassed by your Vrolik's wrasse.

 

[sreefs]

I think you answered your own question. (The vroliks is definitely the boss and is quite a big fish. I would say he's every bit of 4.5 inches if not more.)

 

[shah1]

I have the same exact problem in my 300 gallon tank once i don't see it there usually gone forever i really prefer wrasses

 

[hogfanreefer]

My Vrolik's is about that size and is the co-boss with my Watnabei angel. Despite that he only displays and makes short runs at only one fish, a Halichoeres claudia that gives almost as much as he takes. He ignores my H. chrysus and all my flashers and fairies though.

Try the acclimation box the next time and if he's the culprit you should be able to tell.

 

[Joe0813]

are they carpet surfing behind the tank? i lost a mystery wrasse for months looked behind the tank and everything... then when i moved to the 180 gallon it was wedged between the stand and my wall and i couldn't see it haha... but i doubt all of them are going surfing

 

[Betta132]

Look around behind the tank, then maybe check your overflow. If not in there, you may want to look into blaming your brittle... How large is it?

 

[aandfsoccr04]

yeah I'm really at a loss for what's going on. i have checked all around the tank and in the fuge and sump area and overflow as well. i have about 4 inches behind my tank so i can clearly see behind it and no fish are back there. I think I'm going to have a piece of acrylic made to sit on top of the overflow to keep fish out.

The brittle star is pretty big though. I've had him for about 18 months and I didn't lose wrasses like this in the old 120 and he was in there for over a year. I would say he is every bit of 9 inches in diameter when completely stretched out.

 

[Rutrag]

I had a melanarus which was fine with the established wrasses in tank before him, but was quite a bully to new fish. The problem wasn't obvious because I thought new fish were hiding for a couple days, but the melanarus was keeping them in the rockwork until they withered away. I didn't realize it, because he only went after the new fish if they tried to come out of the rockwork. One day I caught him beating the snot out of a filamented. I didn't have an acclimation box at the time, but that might be your best bet.