Fish disappear

[clownvalk3]

So I think I am losing fish but the show no symptoms and then just disappear???

 

[LAReefer4Life]

What inverts do you have in tank? Possibly a hitchhiker. Keep your eye on the tank when the lights are off and see if you have any unwanted visitors.

 

[clownvalk3]

Hermits, emerald crab, and banded coral shrimp. What would I be looking for?

 

[LAReefer4Life]

Mantis shrimp and brittle stars are good examples. How big are your fish that keep disappearing?

 

[Paul Sands]

How big is your tank and was it set up using live rock or dry rock?

Fairly unlikely that it’s a hitchhiker killing your healthy fish. Not impossible, but unlikely.

More likely that your fish have a disease that you aren’t seeing.

 

[reaper0268]

If a fish dies in the reef it can be quickly consumed by your cleanup crew. Almost all of us have experienced vanishing fish.

Unless it is a green serpent starfish, I wouldn't worry about brittle starfish.

 

[JumboShrimp]

Here’s my Coral Banded Shrimp having caught and eaten a Talbot. (Not the first fish he killed, either.) To be clear, it was a small nano tank (7-10 gallons, if I recall), so fewer places for the fish to hide.

 

[4FordFamily]

My coral banded shrimp have been well-behaved for all 15 years I have kept them but it's true as they become larger the risk of them preying on fish increases. Most ocean life is "opportunistic" so given a good opportunity to feed, most will.

When you say no symptoms, no color loss? No spots, hiding from light, heavy breathing? What's the timeline after addition? Do you quarantine?

 

[clownvalk3]

Recently two blue damsel. I have had that same rock in the tank for 3.5 years???

 

[clownvalk3]

My coral banded shrimp have been well-behaved for all 15 years I have kept them but it's true as they become larger the risk of them preying on fish increases. Most ocean life is "opportunistic" so given a good opportunity to feed, most will.

When you say no symptoms, no color loss? No spots, hiding from light, heavy breathing? What's the timeline after addition? Do you quarantine?

Almost 3 weeks. No I don’t quarantine. I have had 2 clown fish since I started the tank (2.5 years) they have never had an issue every other fish I have put in the tank have died 5 counting the 2 damsel have died or “disappeared”

 

[4FordFamily]

Almost 3 weeks. No I don’t quarantine. I have had 2 clown fish since I started the tank (2.5 years) they have never had an issue every other fish I have put in the tank have died 5 counting the 2 damsel have died or “disappeared”

Unless you have the grim reaper in the tank (bad humor), I’d be leaning towards disease.

Clowns are particularly hardy, especially when established. Their thick slime coats can often fight off a myriad of parasites. Brook being the exception, sometimes. New additions won’t be as robust and established and will be far more susceptible to endemic parasites. Have you freshwater dipped any of your fish to check for flukes?

 

[clownvalk3]

Unless you have the grim reaper in the tank (bad humor), I’d be leaning towards disease.

Clowns are particularly hardy, especially when established. Their thick slime coats can often fight off a myriad of parasites. Brook being the exception, sometimes. New additions won’t be as robust and established and will be far more susceptible to endemic parasites. Have you freshwater dipped any of your fish to check for flukes?

No, I have never even heard of that. Nothing looks wrong with any of the new fish which the blue demsal were add with. Is the band shrimp killing them?

 

[GoldeneyeRet]

Do you have a tight fitting lid on your tank? Jumping is a possibility though it would be odd to lose so many without finding one in the floor (do you have a dog?), or hearing or seeing jumping and splashing.

Coral banded shrimp can take a fish once in a while, but I seriously doubt it has taken all these fish out.

Could be a mantis or some other hitchiker but not very likely. Have you heard any snapping noises at night?

I highly suspect disease. Some diseases can take out fish very quickly and symptoms can easily go unnoticed.

 

[bluprntguy]

Here’s my Coral Banded Shrimp having caught and eaten a Talbot. (Not the first fish he killed, either.) To be clear, it was a small nano tank (7-10 gallons, if I recall), so fewer places for the fish to hide.

This is a picture of your coral banded shrimp eating an already dead fish. Did you see him actually kill this fish? I get that it seems that you caught him red handed, but the fish was more likely already dead and he's just cleaning things up.

 

[shred5]

Is your tank covered?

 

[clownvalk3]

Is your tank covered?

Yes.

 

[clownvalk3]

Do you have a tight fitting lid on your tank? Jumping is a possibility though it would be odd to lose so many without finding one in the floor (do you have a dog?), or hearing or seeing jumping and splashing.

Coral banded shrimp can take a fish once in a while, but I seriously doubt it has taken all these fish out.

Could be a mantis or some other hitchiker but not very likely. Have you heard any snapping noises at night?

I highly suspect disease. Some diseases can take out fish very quickly and symptoms can easily go unnoticed.

I have not heard any snapping noises.

What can I do about disease, or figure out if that is the issue?

 

[JumboShrimp]

@bluprntguy , I agree it’s hard to be definitive. But in the small confines of a 7-10 gallon nano, I would frequently watch the Coral Banded Shrimp playing King if the Mountain on the rocks, swiping with both arms at passing damsels. My theory was that as they slept, he made his move. :(

 

[Bob Weigant]

I’ve had fish vanish and more times than not the clean up crew got to them before I did. If they didn’t jump then odds are they were or got sick and the crew took advantage of a weak fish

 

[Garia666]

If you dont have a cover I would suggest searching for dried fish on the floor.