2 fish disappeared in 1 week...

rock_lobster · May 29, 2016

SO last week, 2 of my fish have vanished. I had 1 medium sized clown, a medium cardinal, firefish, and 2 ranford gobies all in my 16 gallon nuvo. There is no lid but I've had these fish for over 2 years now with no jumpers. Parameters are all 100% no stress the remaining fish are as healthy as ever. The clown randomly went from king of the tank to vanishing over night. then 2 days later one of the ranfords disappeared. Only new additions is a small emerald crab and also a small like half inch white crab with spots that was a hitchhiker. Checked very well for jumpers and didnt see anythign also have no pets. The clown doesnt really jump he is very bold and just drifts around in the water column kind of subtly bullying the other fish. I have no idea where they went. Also this tank is set up more like a frag tank only one rock in the whole tank that is about 1 foot tall so not a lot of places to disappear to.

eatbreakfast · May 29, 2016

If they died on their own, it wouldn't take long for scavengers and pods to take care of their bodies so quickly.

However, crabs are opportunists, and while emeralds are among the safest, they can still take advantage of a sleeping gish. The hitchhiker crab is the more likely suspect though.

rock_lobster · May 29, 2016

Even though he's so small only about 1/2 inch? I also noticed today that something ate one of my hallucination Zoas out of the colony looks like it got mauled.

rock_lobster · May 30, 2016

Any other thoughts? Fortunately no new destruction yet.

eatbreakfast · May 31, 2016

Crab of some sort is the most likely candidate.

Desmond · May 31, 2016

I had a gorialla crab causing mayham for a while until i finally got it out.

rock_lobster · May 31, 2016

I'll have to get pictures. He is super cute solid white with small black spots. Not hairy. Though he is only .5 inches I couldnt imagine him killing a big clown fish unless he is poisonous or has sown crazy weapon that I'm not aware of like a harpoon claw.

donnievaz · May 31, 2016

Does he look like this?

rock_lobster · May 31, 2016

No definitely not.

donnievaz · May 31, 2016

Does it have hair?

DED65 · May 31, 2016

I have a clown in my Nuvo 40 and every once in awhile he disappears. I find him swimming happily in the refugium in the back of the tank. I now cover the tank.