Disappearing Cleaner Gobies

[Jahalu]

I love cleaner gobies. My first one lived in my tank for over a year before vanishing a few months ago. I wanted another, so I purchased a nice looking pair from my lfs. They went through qt no problems. I did ttm, then 2 weeks observation. Prazipro also. I released them into my display last week and boom, two days later there’s only one. I tore apart my sump, but no sign of the lost one. I’m so bummed. Could something be eating them? My tank is 70g mixed reef. Other fish are 1 tomini tang, 1 lyretail anthias, 1 clown, and 1 firefish and 1 Midas blenny. My lyretail and blenny show some aggression to each other, but never to anyone else. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[ChadLo]

I love cleaner gobies. My first one lived in my tank for over a year before vanishing a few months ago. I wanted another, so I purchased a nice looking pair from my lfs. They went through qt no problems. I did ttm, then 2 weeks observation. Prazipro also. I released them into my display last week and boom, two days later there’s only one. I tore apart my sump, but no sign of the lost one. I’m so bummed. Could something be eating them? My tank is 70g mixed reef. Other fish are 1 tomini tang, 1 lyretail anthias, 1 clown, and 1 firefish and 1 Midas blenny. My lyretail and blenny show some aggression to each other, but never to anyone else. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

Dumb question but have you checked behind the tank for a jumper?

 

[Maritimer]

Eating is a possibility for such a tiny fish, and so is jumping. (There are few screens that can keep them in, and still admit light.)

I know I lost one to a maxi-mini carpet anemone ... what sorts of inverts do you keep?

(All keeping in mind that these little guys live just about two years, IIRC.)

~Bruce

 

[eatbreakfast]

Crabs can easily overcome such a tiny target.

They often make it into the overflow and/or sump and their small size makes it difficult to find them.

 

[Maritimer]

Also, should such a small fish die for _any_ reason, your cleanup crew are capable of making them vanish in short order.

~Bruce

 

[Jahalu]

Thanks for the responses. I have a lid; I did check around my tank, but alas, no jumper. I have several bta, so maybe that’s a possibility. I didn’t realize their lifespan was so short. Thanks for bringing that up. They are fun little fish, but at $25 each, it’s no fun to have them just vanish. (although, having said that, I will probably try them again at some point lol)