Mystery of the vanishing fish

emoutz · 05/04/2006, 01:41 PM

I've now lost a number of fish - some big - and by lost I mean that they vanished overnight without a trace of any kind. On the list now are:

4 blue chromis
1 nasu tang
1 flame angel

My damsel, clown, watchman goby, and some other chromis (replacements) are doing fine.

None of this fish showed signs of disease and all were eating normally and looked healthy/well fed and were active right before they vanished.

My water quality is fine, my SPS, inverts, and corals are growing fast and thriving.

I dont have any livestock that would be able to kill and eat a 4 inch tang or flame angel as far as I know. The only possible threats are two smallish serpent stars and a medium sized arrow crab (which I didnt have when most of the fish vanished). I dont think any of them could catch, let alone hold down and kill, the tang or flame.

I understand that dead fish vanish quickly in a reef. However, it seems weird that I have NEVER seen a dead fish. EVER. The tang vanished between 8am and 4pm yesterday. No trace. No bones. No half eaten head - NOTHING.

Any ideas as to *** is going on?

emoutz · 05/04/2006, 01:49 PM

PS I read the other thread. I use T-5 lights - no electrical issues or sunburn (I hope). I find it odd that some fish (damsel, 1 chromis, and the clown) have been alive for months and that others vanish after months of healthy living in the tank. They do tend to vanish one at a time, which is why I suspect something is eating them. Maybe it is a mantis? But could a mantis that is small enough that I havent seen it really take out a 4 inch tang or flame angel (those are BIG fish).

FCdenzreef · 05/04/2006, 02:46 PM

a mantis would be my first guess. even if it is a small one dont underestimate them.

emoutz · 05/04/2006, 05:02 PM

So how do I check/catch the little SOB?

FCdenzreef · 05/04/2006, 05:51 PM

well if you have one you have to find out where he has made his home and pull out the rock. then the easiest way to get him out is pouring fresh or soda water into his hole over a bucket untill he pops out. they are really cool to keep in a seprate tank and i dont ever like killing them. if you get one out of your tank and dont want it send me a pm. i wouldn't even bother with a mantis trap (these shrimp are way too smart for that)

emoutz · 05/05/2006, 10:30 AM

I've started stalking him with a redlight flashlight and some bait - just to see if anything pops up. Didnt see anything last night.

Trex420 · 05/05/2006, 05:30 PM

I've never had a Mantis problem but wouldn't a Mantis first go after slower moving creatures like snails? I would think that you would hear the Mantis as I understand that like my Pistal Shrimp they make a loud clicking sound. I snagged this from Liveaquaria's website (they sell them just encase you want one of your own

)

"Mantis Shrimp are extremely aggressive shrimp... They have very quick claws that they use to break the shell of crustaceans and crabs."

kypatriot · 05/07/2006, 09:40 AM

The most recent thing I added to my tank was my flame angel, about 4 months ago, after the tank had been up about a year before that.

This morning, I could not find my flame angel - completely vanished. All my other fish are fine, and my leathers are too. All water parameters check out OK.

I have no clue where this fish could be, or why it might suddenly die overnight. I really don't think there is any way I could have a mantis, since I haven't added anything.

Please post as you find anything about what could be happening to your fish.

kypatriot · 05/07/2006, 09:55 AM

OK, after reading some other threads, I looked close on the floor behind my tank, and there was my flame.

I didn't think flame angels were prone to jump out like that? Anybody have any idea what would make one jump?

Sk8r · 05/07/2006, 10:08 AM

An upwelling current can cause it: the fish rides the current with enthusiasm and then finds himself airborne. Eggcrate over any area where they can go over the edge is a good fix.

murfman · 05/07/2006, 10:35 AM

two types of mantis shrimp, crushers and spearers. You wouldn't hear the spearing type. I saw one at Seascape here in the springs and they are really cool. I wouldnt have one in a fish tank but I would in a coral only tank.

http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/

05/04/2006, 01:41 PM	#1
emoutz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boulder Posts: 399	Mystery of the vanishing fish I've now lost a number of fish - some big - and by lost I mean that they vanished overnight without a trace of any kind. On the list now are: 4 blue chromis 1 nasu tang 1 flame angel My damsel, clown, watchman goby, and some other chromis (replacements) are doing fine. None of this fish showed signs of disease and all were eating normally and looked healthy/well fed and were active right before they vanished. My water quality is fine, my SPS, inverts, and corals are growing fast and thriving. I dont have any livestock that would be able to kill and eat a 4 inch tang or flame angel as far as I know. The only possible threats are two smallish serpent stars and a medium sized arrow crab (which I didnt have when most of the fish vanished). I dont think any of them could catch, let alone hold down and kill, the tang or flame. I understand that dead fish vanish quickly in a reef. However, it seems weird that I have NEVER seen a dead fish. EVER. The tang vanished between 8am and 4pm yesterday. No trace. No bones. No half eaten head - NOTHING. Any ideas as to *** is going on?

05/05/2006, 05:30 PM	#7
Trex420 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 240	I've never had a Mantis problem but wouldn't a Mantis first go after slower moving creatures like snails? I would think that you would hear the Mantis as I understand that like my Pistal Shrimp they make a loud clicking sound. I snagged this from Liveaquaria's website (they sell them just encase you want one of your own ) "Mantis Shrimp are extremely aggressive shrimp... They have very quick claws that they use to break the shell of crustaceans and crabs." __________________ "Be true unto thy self" Current Tank Info: 75 Gal Reef tank with a 20 gal fuge, 55 Gal Fresh (community), 29 Gal Reef with 130 W PC and a 10 gal Fuge, 29 gal Fresh (mated Angel pair).

05/07/2006, 10:08 AM	#10
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	An upwelling current can cause it: the fish rides the current with enthusiasm and then finds himself airborne. Eggcrate over any area where they can go over the edge is a good fix. __________________ 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%.

05/04/2006, 01:49 PM	#2
emoutz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boulder Posts: 399	PS I read the other thread. I use T-5 lights - no electrical issues or sunburn (I hope). I find it odd that some fish (damsel, 1 chromis, and the clown) have been alive for months and that others vanish after months of healthy living in the tank. They do tend to vanish one at a time, which is why I suspect something is eating them. Maybe it is a mantis? But could a mantis that is small enough that I havent seen it really take out a 4 inch tang or flame angel (those are BIG fish).

05/04/2006, 02:46 PM	#3
FCdenzreef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado Posts: 443	a mantis would be my first guess. even if it is a small one dont underestimate them.

05/04/2006, 05:02 PM	#4
emoutz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boulder Posts: 399	So how do I check/catch the little SOB?

05/04/2006, 05:51 PM	#5
FCdenzreef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado Posts: 443	well if you have one you have to find out where he has made his home and pull out the rock. then the easiest way to get him out is pouring fresh or soda water into his hole over a bucket untill he pops out. they are really cool to keep in a seprate tank and i dont ever like killing them. if you get one out of your tank and dont want it send me a pm. i wouldn't even bother with a mantis trap (these shrimp are way too smart for that)

05/05/2006, 10:30 AM	#6
emoutz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boulder Posts: 399	I've started stalking him with a redlight flashlight and some bait - just to see if anything pops up. Didnt see anything last night.

05/07/2006, 09:40 AM	#8
kypatriot Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 425	The most recent thing I added to my tank was my flame angel, about 4 months ago, after the tank had been up about a year before that. This morning, I could not find my flame angel - completely vanished. All my other fish are fine, and my leathers are too. All water parameters check out OK. I have no clue where this fish could be, or why it might suddenly die overnight. I really don't think there is any way I could have a mantis, since I haven't added anything. Please post as you find anything about what could be happening to your fish.

05/07/2006, 09:55 AM	#9
kypatriot Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 425	OK, after reading some other threads, I looked close on the floor behind my tank, and there was my flame. I didn't think flame angels were prone to jump out like that? Anybody have any idea what would make one jump?

05/07/2006, 10:35 AM	#11
murfman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 4,670	two types of mantis shrimp, crushers and spearers. You wouldn't hear the spearing type. I saw one at Seascape here in the springs and they are really cool. I wouldnt have one in a fish tank but I would in a coral only tank. http://www.blueboard.com/mantis/