Frustrated with Clown Tang!

[junkf15]

I just lost my second clown Tang and I don’t know why! My first one was found sucked into a Power head one day when I got home, and my second one was found being eaten by my hermit crabs this morning when I woke up, after looking OK last night??? My water quality is good. Tested nitrates (<12.5 mg/L) Tested ammonia (0) Tested pH (8.1-8.3) tested Calcium (450 ppm) Tested salinity (1.023). The other inhabitants in the tank have all done fine, I have lots of live rock, 3 anemones, 4 corals, 20+ crabs, feather dusters, an eel, a live sand bed, a skilter 250 and a Millennium 3000 W/D filter working fine. What am I missing? Is it something with Clown Tangs specifically? She was not as aggressive an eater as she had been in the past last night, but it wasn’t anything I thought I needed o worry about because she did eat a little bit.
Very confused-

 

[mshur]

MAN,,THIS FISH I HARD TO KEEP.GO FOR DIFFERENT TANGS.CLOWNS ARE WORTH THEN POWDER BLUES.SORRY ,COULDNT HELP OTHERWISE

 

[misty927]

It could be the combination of tangs in such a small tank, along with the eel..what size and type is it? Also, eels are invert eaters. I'm surprised it hasn't devoured those crabs. Plus, depending on the eel, it will probably need a tank large than a 55 gallon in the future. Maybe you should rethink your inhabitant choices...it has a major affect on the well-being of your tank. Research before you impulse buy, it will save you tons of money and work.

 

[junkf15]

Old Yeller-
Thanks for the words, I think I’ll shy away from them now. It’s a shame, such good-looking fish. Good luck with yours!
Misty-
It is an 8-inch snowflake eel. It has dug a little cave under some of my base rock in my DSB, and seems very happy. Doesn’t bother any other fish, and I have seen it sniff at the hermit crabs, but they are quick to hide in their shells and he leaves them alone. I don’t just by on impulse, but thanks for the assumption. Everything I read, including on these bulletin boards, lead me to conclude the snowflake was the easiest to keep, most likely to thrive in captivity, and that size would be happy for a long time in my tank. I know when he gets bigger I’ll probable have to trade him in, but that’s fine with me. I also carefully considered which inverts to keep with him (only hermit crabs.) I am careful how I feed him and what I feed him. I take everything about my saltwater tank very seriously, including the compatability of it's inhabitants. So I know your more experienced than I am, but that doesn’t make me less conscientious than you.