I think something is eating my fish..

bluebill · 05/18/2011, 05:08 PM

Just want to see what you all think. I have lost 3 fish in last two weeks (a chromi, blue damsel, and a clown goby) and cannot figure out why or where they went. first it was the clown goby and all to the other fish in the tank were acting scared to death which is not normal. I check the water and everthing was normal. Then a cromi went missing and now today I notice the damsel was gone (finally, I have been trying to get him out of the tank for six months). I have yet to find any carcasses or remains of any fish. No amonia, no rise in nitrates, or nitrites, which I would suspect if a fish was decaying in the DT. So I am now thinking somthing is eating them. I only have 3 hermits (red) sand star, 2 turbos, couple of cerith snails, and a bunch stomatella snails besides my clown fish, 2 remaining chromis, and a dotty back. Any help, what do think? Thanks.

fishchef · 05/18/2011, 06:37 PM

Sometimes with your live rock you get a free crab. Most of them are nocturnal. They can be in the tank for a long time and all of a sudden fish come up missing. Put a tall clear glass in your tank overnight with a piece of shrimp at the bottom. They can't get out if its tall enough. Good luck.

Retired Reefer · 05/18/2011, 06:54 PM

Listen for a clicking sound it could be a mantis.

greech · 05/18/2011, 07:22 PM

I would definitely be setting some traps at night. It would not take long for even a CUC of just snails and hermits to devour a fish that died for whatever reason so not finding the carcass is not all that unusual.

Algaenot · 05/18/2011, 09:21 PM

Hide the tartar sauce!

bluebill · 05/19/2011, 08:13 AM

What is the best way to make a trap?

fishchef · 05/23/2011, 08:40 AM

Have you caught anything? The tall clear glass with a piece of solid food works great if you have a crab that you can't find.

Sugar Magnolia · 05/23/2011, 09:50 AM

Tall, smooth sided glass, baited with some fresh seafood, tipped against the rock work at night will catch a crab.

sanchoy · 05/23/2011, 11:32 AM

i rule out the mantis shrimp. If you don't hear clicking sounds. Check parameters again, could be ammonia.. fish will hide before their death, then clean up crew/bristle worms will devour the remains.

flyhigh123 · 05/23/2011, 12:06 PM

use a red light at night time to look into your tank... depending on size of tank, u can use a small water bottle, cut the top, invert it and bait inside,

or use a small glass container like they said, but it depends on what is eating your fish.

maybe you should list what u have in tank. Do you have any brittle or serpent stars?

05/18/2011, 05:08 PM	#1
bluebill Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 66	I think something is eating my fish.. Just want to see what you all think. I have lost 3 fish in last two weeks (a chromi, blue damsel, and a clown goby) and cannot figure out why or where they went. first it was the clown goby and all to the other fish in the tank were acting scared to death which is not normal. I check the water and everthing was normal. Then a cromi went missing and now today I notice the damsel was gone (finally, I have been trying to get him out of the tank for six months). I have yet to find any carcasses or remains of any fish. No amonia, no rise in nitrates, or nitrites, which I would suspect if a fish was decaying in the DT. So I am now thinking somthing is eating them. I only have 3 hermits (red) sand star, 2 turbos, couple of cerith snails, and a bunch stomatella snails besides my clown fish, 2 remaining chromis, and a dotty back. Any help, what do think? Thanks.

05/18/2011, 07:22 PM	#4
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	I would definitely be setting some traps at night. It would not take long for even a CUC of just snails and hermits to devour a fish that died for whatever reason so not finding the carcass is not all that unusual. __________________ ~Graham Current Tank Info: Tank: 40 breeder; 20H sump w/SWC 120; Sicce 3.0 return; Vortech MP-10; Sundial T5, DIY Actinic LED (3W Cree). Livestock: Pair of Black & Whites; Midas Blenny; Firefish; Yasha/pistol; Black Leopard Wrasse; LPS and SPS

05/23/2011, 09:50 AM	#8
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Tall, smooth sided glass, baited with some fresh seafood, tipped against the rock work at night will catch a crab. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

05/23/2011, 11:32 AM	#9
sanchoy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Close to the ocean Posts: 1,026	i rule out the mantis shrimp. If you don't hear clicking sounds. Check parameters again, could be ammonia.. fish will hide before their death, then clean up crew/bristle worms will devour the remains. __________________ 250 gallon.. tangs are the best.. the po po is not. Current Tank Info: 250 reef

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05/18/2011, 06:37 PM	#2
fishchef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,222	Sometimes with your live rock you get a free crab. Most of them are nocturnal. They can be in the tank for a long time and all of a sudden fish come up missing. Put a tall clear glass in your tank overnight with a piece of shrimp at the bottom. They can't get out if its tall enough. Good luck.

05/18/2011, 06:54 PM	#3
Retired Reefer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Northern Calif. Ukiah Posts: 133	Listen for a clicking sound it could be a mantis.

05/18/2011, 09:21 PM	#5
Algaenot Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Highlands Ranch, Co Posts: 174	Hide the tartar sauce!

05/19/2011, 08:13 AM	#6
bluebill Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 66	What is the best way to make a trap?

05/23/2011, 08:40 AM	#7
fishchef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,222	Have you caught anything? The tall clear glass with a piece of solid food works great if you have a crab that you can't find.

05/23/2011, 12:06 PM	#10
flyhigh123 funky member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hacienda Heights (605 and 60 fwy) Posts: 1,893	use a red light at night time to look into your tank... depending on size of tank, u can use a small water bottle, cut the top, invert it and bait inside, or use a small glass container like they said, but it depends on what is eating your fish. maybe you should list what u have in tank. Do you have any brittle or serpent stars?