Missing fish

NewEnglishMutt · Mar 6, 2019

Just finished cycling my new 60gal. Got some live rock, a little algae growth, a few snails and two Talbot Damsels. I put the second damsel in yesterday morning. They were introduced one day apart. This morning I wake up and notice only one damsel. I looked everywhere. There aren’t many rocks I overturned every single one, checked the wave maker, the heater, the inlet and outlet for the canister filter. The thing vanished into thin water. Any ideas?

BestMomEver · Mar 6, 2019

Maybe he jumped? If any of mine jump, the dog eats them. If it died or was killed, your snails and crabs could’ve eaten it all by the time you woke up. Also, is it possible there’s a mantis in your tank? Maybe one came on your rock...

Nice tank, btw!

NewEnglishMutt · Mar 6, 2019

BestMomEver said:
Maybe he jumped? If any of mine jump, the dog eats them. If it died or was killed, your snails and crabs could’ve eaten it all by the time you woke up. Also, is it possible there’s a mantis in your tank? Maybe one came on your rock...

Nice tank, btw!

I have a glass top, no way for it to jump. No crabs just snails, and only 5 at that, they’re all still on the same rocks they were on when I went to bed. I doubt there’s anything more than a bristle worm at most in the rocks I bought, it’s hard to find rocks with anything living more than bacteria around my area. My only thought is maybe the other damsel ate it? But I’d expect to find SOMETHING. The new damsel is the missing one, a little smaller than the remaining fish.

Thanks for the compliment! It’s a good start but a lot left to do!

BestMomEver · Mar 7, 2019

NewEnglishMutt said:
I have a glass top, no way for it to jump. No crabs just snails, and only 5 at that, they’re all still on the same rocks they were on when I went to bed. I doubt there’s anything more than a bristle worm at most in the rocks I bought, it’s hard to find rocks with anything living more than bacteria around my area. My only thought is maybe the other damsel ate it? But I’d expect to find SOMETHING. The new damsel is the missing one, a little smaller than the remaining fish.

Thanks for the compliment! It’s a good start but a lot left to do!

I’ve never seen a damsel eat another fish. I guess it’s possible. I have had a fish get stuck in a rock. Maybe he will show up soon.