What's going on?

[aceroc]

I have 3 blue/green chromis and a clownfish in my tank with some LR.I fed my fish last night and noticed one of the chromis has a chunk missing out of his side. All the fish were eating even the chromis with the wound, so i left him in there thinking he may die he may not. I got up this morning and turned the lights on and i was missing a chromis and it wasn't the one with the wound. I checked all over the tank and can not find the other chromis.I also checked all around the floor and behind the tank and nothing. How can a fish just disapear? Tests are all fine and the other fish are swimming heathy and eating fine.

 

[jdragunas]

well, chromis are part of the damsel family, and while they are the least agressive, they are still agressive, especially toward eachother. They may have been fighting, and one died in the process, and the other fish quickly ate it... or maybe a cleanup crew.
Do you have an overflow box? I lost one of my fish in it, and he was swimming around in the prefilter box for 3 days before i found him... perhaps yours managed to work his way into the filter, or something like that...

 

[aceroc]

I don't have an overflow and as far as a cleanup crew i only have one blue leg hermit as of now.

 

[jdragunas]

do you have live rock?

 

[aceroc]

Yes about 20lbs.

 

[kdfrosty]

My guess is that the fish is either still sleeping in a cave somewhere or got munched by the cleanup crew. You're lucky that you're only missing a Chromis though.

 

[aceroc]

But can one blue leg hermit eat a chromis overnight?

 

[jdragunas]

probably not, but if the chromis died under, or inside a cave of the LR, then when he floats, he'll be stuck under the LR, and you won't be able to see him... It's also possible that your fish may have taken the opportunity to feed themselves too...

 

[aceroc]

Is this maybe why the other chromis has a chunk missing out of his side because they were fighting?

 

[snailheave]

i highly doubt it. mine fight but never 'a chunk'

 

[aceroc]

Any other ideas why a fish would disapear and the other have a big chunk out of the side?

 

[snailheave]

i would check the filtrations, check the rocks, as suggested.

 

[aceroc]

I checked the filters and nothing is in there, they all have screens on them. I took apart the rock work and didn't find anything either.

 

[jdragunas]

yes, chromis can be agressive toward eachother, and clowns are also part of the damsel family and can be agressive. It's very possible that one of them bit your fish, and that's why he's missing a chunk...

 

[snailheave]

do you hear 'click click' noises at night?

 

[symon]

I was going to ask if you hear clicking noises aswell , you could have a mantis shrimp, they will kill and eat your smaller fish

 

[aceroc]

Never really paid attention, but i have had these fish for over a week and nothing until now. Wouldn't a mantis have tried to eat one before this? And what should i do t osee if i have one? I thought i read somewhere to sit in the room with all the lights out and listen and use a red lens flashlight?

 

[kdfrosty]

You cant miss the loud clicks of a Mantis in a quiet room.
A flashlight with a red filter is also a good idea. You may also try the 2 liter trap and see what you come up with.

 

[aceroc]

I have some Blue, Red, White LEDs laying around. Can i use these as i know how to make a mini flashlight from them?

 

[kdfrosty]

I have no clue if theose will work. I use a red filter for a camera in front of the normal lens on my flashlight.