Disappearing fish

[jillian ayers]

This message is more to rant than for advice, since I already know what happened to them. Two of my fish, a Ram and a molly (both very fat and healthy) have disappeared without a trace within a few weeks of each other. I searched everywhere, the filter, around the tank, in the tank, no sign. So now it comes that my now 6 inch long Oscar is getting his own tank. While my fish were big, they were apparently just the right size for my Oscar. No wonder the #$%^&* is growing so fast!

 

[ophiura]

Um, yes, I think that is your problem. Not the most compatible, I am afraid. It was something that would eventually happen. Don't blame the Oscar! They don't pass up an easy meal, like most animals.

 

[jillian ayers]

I don't blame him, he's actually the prettiest fish I have. Some time this week, he goes into my 75 gallon, since I don't have the money to turn it into sw yet, I'll just use it as a home for him and get him out of the 20. It was a product of "Ooh, he's so pretty! Let's get him!" I did no research on him or how big he was really going to get. Oh well, he's about to get the most spacious tank in the house, I hope he's happy.

 

[ophiura]

I'm sure he will be happy. Just don't put other small fish in there. I am a big believer in keeping large south American cichlids with other large south American cichlids, if you want to put them in with anything else.
However, large south American cichlids often have quite a bad attitude, especially if you end up with a breeding pair. So care must be taken when mixing them, and (this is very important) many reproduce quite quickly. Be prepared for this if you get a pair of fish, because many LFS will not take hundreds of small offspring of jack dempsey's, firemouths, convicts, etc.