Investigating a "dead fish" scenario

tzylak · 10/28/2014, 02:31 PM

My Mandarin disappeared. It probably starved after a 3-month self-imposed fast. Yet I cannot find the corpse.

1. Bodies float, but not until the gastric gasses float it to the top. -I found nothing floating on the surface.
2. One would think that the CUC eat the body. -Yet I found all the shrimp and hermits at the front and eating when fed like there is no tomorrow.
3. #1 and 2 did not apply when my Royal Gramma disappeared either.

So, what are the absolute indicators of a dead fish??
Help!

m0nkie · 10/28/2014, 02:48 PM

tank size? if tank is fairly small, you can usually notice a raise in ammonia when your fish dies..

and don't be so sure about #2. My CUC can eat a half dead shrimp within minutes.. nothing left. I watched it happen..

Mandarins is always out hunting pods, so if you don't see it, it's probably dead and eaten

Sk8r · 10/28/2014, 11:41 PM

This is why you cycled your tank. If it's not living, it decomposes, fast, with the help of all those bacteria you bred. That's their job---theirs and the cuc.

Pomacanthus1 · 10/29/2014, 12:24 AM

If you have a good amount of live rock and all of the life that comes with it, chances are it's already eaten and gone. Whenever I happen to lose a fish, they just disappear. Once or twice, I think I may have found some bones under a rock.

VAReefDog · 10/29/2014, 05:44 AM

+1 to bacteria and CUC. Over the last year- I have lost 3 small fish- completely covered tank- so no jumpers possible. Every single one- fish was seen during the day without signs and was gone in the am. No body or bones or other parts ever found.
That is the job of a clean up crew.

Silvergryphon · 10/29/2014, 07:49 AM

I doubt it was a "self-imposed fast". Mandarins eat TONS of pods, if you didn't have many in your tank, it probably starved due to lack of available pods to eat.

Xavibear · 10/29/2014, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvergryphon

I doubt it was a "self-imposed fast". Mandarins eat TONS of pods, if you didn't have many in your tank, it probably starved due to lack of available pods to eat.

I agree.

Pomacanthus1 · 10/29/2014, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvergryphon

I doubt it was a "self-imposed fast". Mandarins eat TONS of pods, if you didn't have many in your tank, it probably starved due to lack of available pods to eat.

This too. What were you trying to feed it?

tzylak · 10/30/2014, 08:09 AM

Posts #6, #7 AND #8, Please, I am fully aware of the Mandarin starvation. I do feel awful about getting the fish in the first place.
Still, I gave it black worms, white worms, all the frozen food available. -It would just fan away the food, whether it was still wriggling or not.
I did purchase pods but the clowns probably got most of it.
I did my best, enough said. . . . Tom

10/28/2014, 11:41 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	This is why you cycled your tank. If it's not living, it decomposes, fast, with the help of all those bacteria you bred. That's their job---theirs and the cuc. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

10/28/2014, 02:31 PM	#1
tzylak Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 457	Investigating a "dead fish" scenario My Mandarin disappeared. It probably starved after a 3-month self-imposed fast. Yet I cannot find the corpse. 1. Bodies float, but not until the gastric gasses float it to the top. -I found nothing floating on the surface. 2. One would think that the CUC eat the body. -Yet I found all the shrimp and hermits at the front and eating when fed like there is no tomorrow. 3. #1 and 2 did not apply when my Royal Gramma disappeared either. So, what are the absolute indicators of a dead fish?? Help!

10/28/2014, 02:48 PM	#2
m0nkie Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: LA Posts: 6,264	tank size? if tank is fairly small, you can usually notice a raise in ammonia when your fish dies.. and don't be so sure about #2. My CUC can eat a half dead shrimp within minutes.. nothing left. I watched it happen.. Mandarins is always out hunting pods, so if you don't see it, it's probably dead and eaten __________________ 560gal in the making

10/29/2014, 12:24 AM	#4
Pomacanthus1 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,489	If you have a good amount of live rock and all of the life that comes with it, chances are it's already eaten and gone. Whenever I happen to lose a fish, they just disappear. Once or twice, I think I may have found some bones under a rock.

10/29/2014, 05:44 AM	#5
VAReefDog Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 48	+1 to bacteria and CUC. Over the last year- I have lost 3 small fish- completely covered tank- so no jumpers possible. Every single one- fish was seen during the day without signs and was gone in the am. No body or bones or other parts ever found. That is the job of a clean up crew.

10/29/2014, 07:49 AM	#6
Silvergryphon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Seattle, Wa Posts: 540	I doubt it was a "self-imposed fast". Mandarins eat TONS of pods, if you didn't have many in your tank, it probably starved due to lack of available pods to eat.

10/30/2014, 08:09 AM	#9
tzylak Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 457	Posts #6, #7 AND #8, Please, I am fully aware of the Mandarin starvation. I do feel awful about getting the fish in the first place. Still, I gave it black worms, white worms, all the frozen food available. -It would just fan away the food, whether it was still wriggling or not. I did purchase pods but the clowns probably got most of it. I did my best, enough said. . . . Tom