Lost another tang ?

[leboeuf]

For those of you who remember, I lost a purple tang two weeks ago. I thought there was a possibility of my CBS being the vilian.
Woke up this morning to find my Sally finishing off the remains of one of my yellow tangs. What the hell is going on ? All water parameters are 0...tank looks great, corals doing well.......These fish are not small nor large, but something is killing them off. I have now lost a powder blue, purple, yellow all the same size. Could I have a mantis or something. Heading to the LFS in the morning to discuss the possibilities.
any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated......

 

[leigh]

could be a mantis--heard any clicking? lost any inverts? (as i understand it a mantis prefers an easier kill and will go after inverts before fish)... i know this is gruesome but what do the fish look like killed? are they intact or do they look as if they have been 'slashed'...do you have any snail shells or hermit crab shells that look like they have been 'smashed'? also, if you haven't already, try posting on the disease forum--beth and/or terry may have some insight into a parisite that perhaps is hosting in your tangs. i'm really sorry
oh, also as a ps, i first discovered i had a mantis by it darting out of its hole to retrieve some plankton i was feeding the tank. perhaps try taking something tasty--some good frozen food or something--and just wave it (using a turkey baster!) around open holes--you never know what might pop out!

 

[leboeuf]

sounds like a good plan. I have not lost any invert in a couple of months. one cleaner in early Apr. No smashed shells either. Just apparently healthy looking fish showing up dead. I have not seen any of the remains except the purple, which did have a gash down it's side. the other two were bones on the sand bed. I thought I have heard some clicking in the tank, but its very inconsistant. Couple of weeks no noise then I'll hear something. Lossing my mind, i feel sometimes. As I stated in my post regarding the purple, I am not adding anymore fish for a while. Want to see if the problem persists. Beef up the corals is the plan. thx

 

[michaeltx]

are there any other fish in the tank when these fish were in the tank??
one thing you said there was a gash on the side of the purple was there another tang in the tank with him.
how long was the slash it might be a mantis still though. but with a death in the tank if you have a lot of life in your rocks the will make a meal very quickly.
Mike

 

[regaldragon]

I've had a probelm with a lot of my hermits being killed off in the last week or so. I've lost about 10 of my 20 hermits thus far, and I will occasionally find a body laying on the sand, as if it had been pulled from its shell. I just figured that the hermits were fighting amongst themselves for better shells... but the other day I caught a very quick glimpse of something that has made me wonder - it was peeking out of a hole in my LR, and it had black and white bands. at first I thought it was a new tube worm I'd never seen since I saw two antennae coming from the rock - but the whole thing (black and white tube part and all) darted back into the hole as soon as I scooted closer for a better view. Could this be a mantis, or something else that is killing my hermits? Is there any way I can get rid of it?
Thanks for the help in advance!

 

[shep]

Just how many tangs were in the tank and what species. Tangs have nice little razor right before the tail. and only certian species get along. Might be tang killing the others off. I made the mistake of buying a blue and a blue hippo...They don't mix. had to give the blue away . Looked like they had both been to a knife fight after the first day. Found that the yellow mimic is laid back and likes hippos for the most part and got one and they do great.

 

[leigh]

RegalDragon sounds like you have a mantis. Does it look like you have some crushed shells too that hermits once inhabited? (ie typical signs of a 'smasher' mantis)
LeBoeuf--sounds like you could definitely have a slasher. As you're beefing up your corals watch where you stick your fingers!!! Shep has a point too though--sounds like an interesting lead to follow up on--personally I know nothing of this as I've never had more than my one lil purple hlle recoveree.

 

[leboeuf]

i thought it could be the other tangs fighting. One of the yellows is slightly larger and more aggressive than anyone else. However, all three yellows have been in the tank since the cycle ended. They all got along with the exception of the little spat. The lead yellow took a few swips at the purple, but he stood his ground. From the looks of things, I was worried about the purple killing the others, not the other way round. There seems to be no agression in the tank amung the inhabitants. I have so much rock work that it is impossible to spot a mantis. I have been trying to leave a piece of krill out on the SB to see if anything comes for it, and nothing.....
I will definitely watch were I put my fingers in the tank.
Still pondering.......
Current inhabitants-CBS, 2 Cleaner, 3 sm Emeralds, 2 peppermints, maroon, 2 yellows, hippo, longnose, 6 line, bi blenny, horseshoe, various hermits (all small)