Disapearing Fish!

[Fatman]

I just started my 55g, and I had 3 chromies and 1 hermit crab in there. Everything has been calm for a few days they hide behind the rocks at night and swim happily during the day. This afternoon I wake up late (long party last night) and I find one chromie missing! I figured he died or something, but I looked and looked and no body could be found! I turned over all the rocks, checked the overflow, checked the filter, checked around the tank incase he jumoed out. Nothing any ideas?

[graphixx]

I wish I could help. I just went throught that with a copper banded butterfly. your hermit may have gotten hiim but there should still be soemthing left of him. I would keep looking and he may turn up

[PistolPete30]

I have had a couple of fish missing as well. I think that in My case the fish died and were cleaned up by either sand sifting star fish or brittle star. The other conclusion my wife had was that the other fish in the tank held a service and buried them properly in a hidden graveyard. LOL

[Fatman]

I have had a couple of fish missing as well. I think that in My case the fish died and were cleaned up by either sand sifting star fish or brittle star. The other conclusion my wife had was that the other fish in the tank held a service and buried them properly in a hidden graveyard. LOL

Im going to shift the sand around to look for him, but why would the hermit crab get him .

[PistolPete30]

The only time I have seen anything eating the fish is when the fish got lethargic or wedge themselves into rocks and then they are prime time for the cleaners to do their jobs. The hermit is probably just cleaning up.

[Fatman]

Ive looked everywhere shifted the sand and still cant find a body. Oh well first mystery of the new tank lol. I told my dad we needed X-Files to come investigate lol.

[PistolPete30]

LOL

[Fatman]

Mystery Solved, I left this morning and saw the two chromies swimming I get home from work I see one. Im like OH **** NO! Im start shifting sand looking under rocks. Then my dads like check the power head. What do you know, poor guy got sucked up, and was stuck there, already half his body gone. Poor little guy got to close for comfort. I put a screen around the power head to make sure no more get loose.

[KG]

You know it's up to you, but if you lose the last one, I wouldn't put anymore fish in until about 6 weeks later. This way you can break any ich cycle that might be present and not end up with fish that are combative in nature. Instead, I'd suggest adding a little bit of food once or twice a week to feed the bacteria you need to complete the cycle. Just my o2.

KG

[Fatman]

You know it's up to you, but if you lose the last one, I wouldn't put anymore fish in until about 6 weeks later. This way you can break any ich cycle that might be present and not end up with fish that are combative in nature. Instead, I'd suggest adding a little bit of food once or twice a week to feed the bacteria you need to complete the cycle. Just my o2.

KG

My girlfriend bought them just to see something in the tank, I told her not to expect them to survive, Im just bummed they died from the stupid powerhead. So far my water "seems" fair I plan to re-test it this friday after having the fish in for a week.