Disappearing Fish

[nudifun]

I'm about done buying new fish, I seriously do not know whats going on here. I have lost three firefish, a green clown goby, and a bangaii cardinal. All disappeared without a trace.
The first two firefish disappeared months ago, I stopped buying firefish because of it. I know they jump but I have a full fit top on my tank. The Green clown goby and Bangaii went missing around the same time (within a week of each other) and the last firefish that died was a beautiful Helfrichi that had gained the honor of my new favorite fish. The bangaii and clwon goby went missing a couple of months ago. I did not lose any new fish during this time, and i got a good deal on the firefish (which i had always wanted) so I got him. he was fine for a month. acting normal, eating normal, etc. Now he is completely gone. no trace at all.
No other fish is acting sick or funny. nothing is dying and my coral is flourishing. parameters are perfect and the tank has never looked better. My Percula is aggressive to new tankmates but he usually settles down once the new fish realizes his territory. Another interesting tidbit, I saw what appeared to be an empty nassarius shell right at the opening to the shrimps lair. I attempted to grab it to verify this but it fell to deep into the shrimp burrow and i couldn't get it. I know the shrimp will attack things that fall into its hole, but he wont kill and eat my fish would he? Honestly He is beginning to sound like the only possible culprit. i literally have no predators in this tank. Hopefully its not a Mantis, but I think by know I would have lost my pistol or goby if that was the case. They have tunnels all over the place.

Livestock:
Starry Blenny
True Percula clown (likes to chase new fish, but has never been very violent)
Yellow Assessor
Orange-Spotted Watchman Goby
Tiger Pistol Shrimp
Cleaner Skunk Shrimp
Peppermint shrimp
Maxima
Flame Scallop
Coco Worm
2 Fighting Conch
2 Reef Hermits
4 Nassarius (had five cannot find the other)
5 Turbos
4 Astreas
6 Cerith
Lots of LPS's
Lots of Octos/softs
a few SPS's

[mbingha]

What size tank, and perimeters?

[Sugar Magnolia]

Yes. We need to know what size tank you have.

[slgcmg]

If you have a fairly large reef, chances are they died under a rock and were consumed by your clean up crew. You are losing pretty small fish which would be easy for a CUC to dispose of in 1 night.

[PirateToast]

In the last few weeks I lost a diamond goby and mystery wrasse in a 55. The diamond goby was never seen after disappearing (there's no way he jumped out). The mystery wrasse made a brief appearance, showing that he was suffering, but not yet dead, from popeye. Now he's gone without a trace.

I've learned the hard way that fish can just disappear without a trace in even relatively small tanks without much rockwork. It would be good to identify a cause, or at least have one in mind. (I went with rockslide and trauma).

[nudifun]

Its a 55 gallon. 48x20x13.
Parameters:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - >2
Phosphate - >.02
Magnesium - 1340
Calcium - 420
Alkalinity - 9
PH-8.1
Salinity - 1.024
Temp -79 (night) 80 (day)

[nudifun]

Losing fish is typical, Im aware, and losing one without a trace definitely happens....just not every time a new fish is introduced. I seriously cannot get any new fish. My existing fish never die. only the new ones. Its like I'm not allowed to have anymore. Like the existing fish are saying, "uh no, not in this tank partner".
No fish ever look sick or stop eating before this happens. they are just here one day and gone the next. Another interesting tidbit. almost every night i hear the popping sound from my pistol shrimp. I hear him do it at least a few times a night. sometimes he gets real butt wild and you can hear his pop like ten times in one minute. I think I may be dining on my fish. I think that they dart into his hole and he shocks them, kills them and is like what the hell....food!
I just don't understand why people don't have issues with them doing this all the time. I mean, that's what they do. they dig holes and maintain them all day long. when they are hungry and an intruder invades they kill and eat em. that's their nature. So why do most people not have this issue? Why is this not more prevalent?

[Uncle Salty 05]

I suspect your pistol shrimp is wounding them and they disappear into the rocks to die.

[slgcmg]

Great video,, I have 3 cleaners and a fire shrimp in my tank along with a harlequin. Guy at LFS tried to sell me a pistol shrimp knowing the shrimps I had in my tank already and said "they will be fine"

Geez, got to love LFS... Glad I passed on him!!