lost fish wondering what to do

jimbow · 05/04/2016, 12:14 PM

So here is the story. I have a 150 Gal set up for about 5 months now. the water parameters are not perfect but not real bad.
SG 1.025
PH 7.85
AK 10.2
MG 1200
CA 350
NO 2 and NO3 0
PO4 .16

In the tank I have a kole tang about 3" long, a diamond goby about 4" long, a black and white clown that is maybe 3" long and a small (6" maybe) yellow spot skalator eel. The tang was added about 6 weeks in and was the only fish for a while. The clown and goby were added next and came from a local guys tank. The eel was added next and is from DD. Other than snails have a big green serpent star (from the same tank as the goby and clown). I also have a waspfish but he has been moved to the sump because I can't get him to eat. I was hoping being alone in a smaller area would help me get him eating but it hasn't worked so far.

I added a small wrasse a while back (before the clown and goby). It swam into the rocks and never reappeared. After the waspfish (which a has lived 8 weeks without hardly eating anything) I put in a lemon peal angel and McCloster wrasse. They lived were eating and seemed to be doing well for 3 or so weeks then both disappeared on the same day. I blamed it on the waspfish but I'm starting to doubt that. I tried to feed him a small gold fish line half the size of the wrasse and he didn't even try to catch it. I can't get him to eat small guppies so I don't think he could have eaten the wrasse and no way he got the angel eaten.

So I moved him to the sump and put in a small orange and white clown one evening. Next morning it looked good and that night it was gone.

The fish I have look happy, are eating and active. I want to add more fish but am not sure what to do, seems dumb to pay and have them die in a day. I have a bunch of corals and they all seem to be doing good except for a bubble coral and zoa that the angel picked on while it was alive. Anyone have thoughts?

MondoBongo · 05/04/2016, 12:47 PM

big green serpent stars eat fish. i would bet that is your culprit.

on a related note, it doesn't sound like you are QTing new arrivals, or have a screen top? these are two things i strongly endorse to help keep your fish around.

Mr.Tan · 05/04/2016, 12:54 PM

it probably sounds crazy but have you checked your overflow(s) ? i thought my fish died and my CBS ate it, but here i found it swimming in the overflow.

Reef Frog · 05/04/2016, 01:11 PM

The serpent star is probably suspect #1. Don't know anything about the eel species you have....but eels eat fish. And like MB said, fish jump and get into overflows.

Sometimes, actually most of the time, you won't find a body in a reef tank. Fish can die for a host of other reasons (acclimation difficulties, stress, aggression, disease). The average hitch hikers & clean up crews can make fast work of a fish carcass. Unfortunately, you'll probably never find the definitive answer you're looking for. But personally, I'd get rid of that serpent star. They are killers. And they hide most of the time anyway, giving them low entertainment value IMO.

jimbow · 05/05/2016, 07:48 AM

I do have a top and did check the overflow. The overflow is covered but there are some spaces around pipes that the wrasse and clown could have gotten through but the angel could not have gone through them. Maybe I'll move the star to the sump and see what happens.

05/04/2016, 12:47 PM	#2
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	big green serpent stars eat fish. i would bet that is your culprit. on a related note, it doesn't sound like you are QTing new arrivals, or have a screen top? these are two things i strongly endorse to help keep your fish around. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

05/04/2016, 12:14 PM	#1
jimbow Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Idaho Posts: 217	lost fish wondering what to do So here is the story. I have a 150 Gal set up for about 5 months now. the water parameters are not perfect but not real bad. SG 1.025 PH 7.85 AK 10.2 MG 1200 CA 350 NO 2 and NO3 0 PO4 .16 In the tank I have a kole tang about 3" long, a diamond goby about 4" long, a black and white clown that is maybe 3" long and a small (6" maybe) yellow spot skalator eel. The tang was added about 6 weeks in and was the only fish for a while. The clown and goby were added next and came from a local guys tank. The eel was added next and is from DD. Other than snails have a big green serpent star (from the same tank as the goby and clown). I also have a waspfish but he has been moved to the sump because I can't get him to eat. I was hoping being alone in a smaller area would help me get him eating but it hasn't worked so far. I added a small wrasse a while back (before the clown and goby). It swam into the rocks and never reappeared. After the waspfish (which a has lived 8 weeks without hardly eating anything) I put in a lemon peal angel and McCloster wrasse. They lived were eating and seemed to be doing well for 3 or so weeks then both disappeared on the same day. I blamed it on the waspfish but I'm starting to doubt that. I tried to feed him a small gold fish line half the size of the wrasse and he didn't even try to catch it. I can't get him to eat small guppies so I don't think he could have eaten the wrasse and no way he got the angel eaten. So I moved him to the sump and put in a small orange and white clown one evening. Next morning it looked good and that night it was gone. The fish I have look happy, are eating and active. I want to add more fish but am not sure what to do, seems dumb to pay and have them die in a day. I have a bunch of corals and they all seem to be doing good except for a bubble coral and zoa that the angel picked on while it was alive. Anyone have thoughts?

05/04/2016, 12:54 PM	#3
Mr.Tan Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: York, PA Posts: 734	it probably sounds crazy but have you checked your overflow(s) ? i thought my fish died and my CBS ate it, but here i found it swimming in the overflow.

05/04/2016, 01:11 PM	#4
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	The serpent star is probably suspect #1. Don't know anything about the eel species you have....but eels eat fish. And like MB said, fish jump and get into overflows. Sometimes, actually most of the time, you won't find a body in a reef tank. Fish can die for a host of other reasons (acclimation difficulties, stress, aggression, disease). The average hitch hikers & clean up crews can make fast work of a fish carcass. Unfortunately, you'll probably never find the definitive answer you're looking for. But personally, I'd get rid of that serpent star. They are killers. And they hide most of the time anyway, giving them low entertainment value IMO.

05/05/2016, 07:48 AM	#5
jimbow Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Idaho Posts: 217	I do have a top and did check the overflow. The overflow is covered but there are some spaces around pipes that the wrasse and clown could have gotten through but the angel could not have gone through them. Maybe I'll move the star to the sump and see what happens.