How do you guys deal with fish loss?

[vcnt]

This is my 3rd fish I’ve lost, first one was a baby yellow goby and got murdered by a gorilla crab which is now gone, 2nd my first fish of 6 months just jumped out leaving only one clown and this my new leopard wrasse I just got her and Monday and she was like 80 dollars I haven’t seen her since Tuesday night, I assumed that is normal new wrasse behavior. I just got home from taking a test and I see my two big hermits crabs which name I forgot EATING her??? This is so awful I took the two hermits out and now my big and baby emerald crabs are cleaning up what the hermits left. Does this mean they know have a taste for fish and must go aswell??

 

[bobnicaragua]

The hermits are part of your clean up crew. This is why they’re in there.

 

[Kingsley_Reef]

I doubt a hermit could catch a wrasse unless it was already ill,but never know I guess

I hereby sentence them to life in the sump for fish slaughter unless proven innocent

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I would look for another cause for the fish deaths, its not the crabs IMO.

 

[BryanM]

Indeed, this seems like something else is causing this last fish death at least. I can't even count how many hermits I have, I have a 6-line, and its fine.

tank parameters?

 

[vcnt]

I would look for another cause for the fish deaths, its not the crabs IMO.

The fish seemed healthy at the store and when I put it in Monday and Tuesday she was swimming around fine but Tuesday night she went to bed and I didn’t see her until now so I just assumed it was the crabs cause they were found at the scene

 

[Jasonak]

This is my 3rd fish I’ve lost, first one was a baby yellow goby and got murdered by a gorilla crab which is now gone, 2nd my first fish of 6 months just jumped out leaving only one clown and this my new leopard wrasse I just got her and Monday and she was like 80 dollars I haven’t seen her since Tuesday night, I assumed that is normal new wrasse behavior. I just got home from taking a test and I see my two big hermits crabs which name I forgot EATING her??? This is so awful I took the two hermits out and now my big and baby emerald crabs are cleaning up what the hermits left. Does this mean they know have a taste for fish and must go aswell??

Sorry man, leopard wrasse can be tuff to get a healthy one. Im going to say fish was dying or dead. I have a hundred hermits in my tank and they have never caught my leopard wrasse. But this is a common misconception. You come home see your crabs eating your fish and believe they killed it. When they are actually just doing what there suppose to do clean up your tank. Its a bummer but your hermits didnt kill your wrasse.

 

[Jasonak]

The fish seemed healthy at the store and when I put it in Monday and Tuesday she was swimming around fine but Tuesday night she went to bed and I didn’t see her until now so I just assumed it was the crabs cause they were found at the scene

Now that I see the picture im not sure what kind of hermits those are still not sure that they could catch a wrasse but im not sure what kind those are so I would take them back just to be on safe side. In that picture those guys look pretty big.

 

[vcnt]

Sorry man, leopard wrasse can be tuff to get a healthy one. Im going to say fish was dying or dead. I have a hundred hermits in my tank and they have never caught my leopard wrasse. But this is a common misconception. You come home see your crabs eating your fish and believe they killed it. When they are actually just doing what there suppose to do clean up your tank. Its a bummer but your hermits didnt kill your wrasse.

Like this is so annoying and upsetting have fish die esp so early on

Now that I see the picture im not sure what kind of hermits those are still not sure that they could catch a wrasse but im not sure what kind those are so I would take them back just to be on safe side. In that picture those guys look pretty big.

yeeah They’re big I got them from reef cleaners I’ll check my order history to see what they are standby

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I'm wondering if the wrasse you got has some underlying health condition. I have never seen a hermit crab grab and eat a healthy fish.

 

[vcnt]

Now that I see the picture im not sure what kind of hermits those are still not sure that they could catch a wrasse but im not sure what kind those are so I would take them back just to be on safe side. In that picture those guys look pretty big.

https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/thin-striped-hermit-medium

 

[vcnt]

I'm wondering if the wrasse you got has some underlying health condition. I have never seen a hermit crab grab and eat a healthy fish.

That’s what others seem to be saying I really don’t know though

 

[ChiCity]

 

[Jasonak]

https://www.reefcleaners.org/aquarium-store/thin-striped-hermit-medium

According to them its not a threat. Ive not had allot of luck with leopard wrasse myself. The one I have now was a gift from a friend who went bare bottom tank. All the ones I bought over the years never made it. Luckily now days theres several vendors out there offering QT fish which makes your odds of getting a healthy fish go way up. Fish hotel is who ive been using lately. He did just have a blue star on there but im not sure if he still does.
Had to edit forget we were are in 2025 lol

 

[exnisstech]

Trust the folks that have said hermit crabs can not catch and kill a healthy fish. It would be nice if that was the case because it would be an easy fix. I don't know why your loosing fish but it isn't the hermits.

 

[vcnt]

According to them its not a threat. Ive not had allot of luck with leopard wrasse myself. The one I have now was a gift from a friend who went bare bottom tank. All the ones I bought over the years never made it. Luckily now days theres several vendors out there offering QT fish which makes your odds of getting a healthy fish go way up. Fish hotel is who ive been using lately. He did just have a blue star on there but im not sure if he still does. I see your kinda new to the site how old is your tank ?
Edit: Wait its its 2025 lol you not new lol

My tank is about 6 months, I got my first fish July 11th something like that

 

[Jasonak]

This is a kind of harsh attitude but ive had saltwater/tanks for long time and im kinda jaded i guess. But when people would see my tank and say wow thats a beautiful fish how much did that cost and id say 500.00 and they were like wow you paid 500.00 for one fish and Id say no I paid a 100 for one and I bought 5 before one finally maid it. That was a running joke with me for years and ive got way better at fish husbandry and now days I 100 percent only buy QT fish but you still get losses. Make sure your tank parameter's are where there suppose to be to give them there best chance is all you can do. Leave the lights out for that first day. I really suggest going QT or setting up your own QT tank or this will bite you down the road. You might get away with it for awhile but only takes one sick fish to wipe out everything.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Are you getting the fish from somewhere that QT's their fish or not?

 

[littlefoxx]

Now that I see the picture im not sure what kind of hermits those are still not sure that they could catch a wrasse but im not sure what kind those are so I would take them back just to be on safe side. In that picture those guys look pretty big.

Those are zebra hermits, just fancy forms of the blue and red legs, they wont kill fish unless its already dead. Ive had a few of them and they are chill

 

[Uncle99]

I removed every single crab 6 years ago. While not the cause of fish death, can and will catch and eat anything thats slow or doesn’t move.

Since removing crabs, unknown Coral deaths and empty snail shells have coincidentally stopped.

If you like them keep them.