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I have lost 3 of the last 4 fish I added to the tank in the last 6 weeks.No bodys or any traces of them.
The only predators I know of are a 1/2 dozen or more Bristle worms.The largest is about 6 to 7 inches.I have set up for a few hours watching the tank under moonlight but no signs of any sea monsters.Any ideas? I lost a new
Clown,Royal Gramma,and Cardinal fish!

Do you have hermit crabs, etc? Even regular hermit crabs can make pretty short work of a dead fish, not to mention other fish eating them too.

I'd be more concered with why they are dying, not where they are going afterwards though.

I'm going to agree, something is causing your fish to die, then the hermits are eating them. It also may be that they are not dead, just hiding.



Dan

Hey Fishheadfred,

Sounds like you're having a rough time, and I'm sorry to hear it.. It can be quite frustrating when things happen in our tanks and we can't quite put our fingers on the problem.. I have a few questions if you don't mind:

How long has this tank been set up and how much (if any) liverock do you have in this tank??

Ever hear any clicking or popping noises coming from the tank at night??

What do your water parameters look like??

How are you acclimating your fish before releasing them into the tank??

Tank is 1yr this month.
Ph 8.3
Amm 0
Nitri 0
nitra 20
80f
75g with 45ref.
100lbs mixed LR
Still have two of the original fish I bought.Went through a 6week period fishless to combat ick.No other problems to date.The cherub was added 1 1/2 weeks ago ,doing fine.Acclimation methods are drip or 1/4 cup of water to bag every 15 min. 1hr duration.
clean up crew is 1doz or so snails
1/2 doz red leg and zebra hermits
choc. chip star.
Oh yeah a few weeks ago I killed most of my pods by putting a piece of acrylic in the tank that was new.Just pealed off the plastic and put in.This had something on it a wiped out most of my pods.Pods are repoducing now though?
I don't think they are dying then being eaten,I think they are victims of a derranged tank inhabitant.I have never seen a floater of even any traces of the missing fish.
Also I could have bought out of a crappy shipment.all fish lasted a few days before there demise.Thanks for any input

Last edited by fishheadfred at 17-Nov-2004 05:44

DTHURS....hiding ,I don't think so as they were all big eaters and came out at feeding time.Hiding mabey.I picked up an electric blue hermit a few days ago and have seen him once since for about two minutes.
Will the hermits attack a sleeping fish and how could such a little crab capture a fish 2 to 3 times as big?

Small hermits should not bother sleeping fish, but every hermit is different. You can always get a crazy one. I've had a few fish that I didn't see, no mater how hard I looked for several days. I've heard others here say fish were gone for weeks and then suddenly show up.



Dan

OK. I will hold off on replacing the R.G.
I plan on getting a pair of B. Cardinals on friday.let you know how it goes.

Yes, I must agree with everything posted here as possible happenings to your fish. In the SW tanks, you will rarely see any "leftovers" of a dead fish, if you have a good cleanup crew like you have stated. They will make short order of anything they find dead in the tank. You will be lucky to even see a skeleton. As for hiding, you have plenty of rock in that tank, for plenty of hiding places. I have the same setup of 75 gal with 100 lbs LR in it, and I have a filament wrasse, they hides all the time. I see him about once or twice per month, for only a few minutes. He is the most beautiful fish, and with he would stay out more, but I can't figure out what it is that is scaring him into hiding.

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There is always a bigger fish...

Well ,I have added my new Cardinals and they have lasted 2 days now.Hope they are here at the end of the week!