Who ate my Chromis?

[Seaboy_HPT]

Have a small 55G tank with 3 blue green Chromis, 1 yellow Tang, 2 small Cowfish, 1 small gobie, 1 Coral Banded Shrimp and basic clean up crew of snails. Last night none of my 3 Chromis were anywhere to be found. All three gone in the same day? I am not detecting any amonia, or nitrite spike.

I cant figure out which one of these would even attack a chromis as they have been in the tank for 6 months no problem. No bodies found at all. Any ideas? Do they disinigarte quicly if they die?

 

[sryder]

check your overflows.

 

[ronj]

does that size tank even come with overflows???? you could have some hitch hiker crabs, but that is weird that they all disappeared in one night!!!

 

[jetaero]

I'd not think twice to the coral banded shrimp.

-Josh-

 

[Brenden]

I agree the CBS will kill them if the opportunity presents itself. However 3 at once?????

 

[burning2nd]

floor. i found cromies on the floor and then you have your over flow, stuck in the box(if you have one) then your CBS,

depending on whats in your tank will determin how fast they dissaper.

check your power head intakes (if not coverd)

i lost a cromie one night and nothing was found in the morning, but 3 sounds weird

 

[Seaboy_HPT]

Not in the over flows, and I cover the top so no carpet diving. Cant imagine how a CBS could eat 3 in one night. That type of shrimp looks fearce but only pics at stuff on the rocks, it never even goes after the mysys I feed the Cowfish.

 

[burning2nd]

hmmmmm,,,


telaportaion.

or TARDIS,

time and relitive dimention is space.

 

[Electrokate]

I am sorry, I ate them. Already ate all of mine, fish store was out, and I was hungry (burp)
Sorry, just couldn't resist.
So anyways, what coral/inverts do you have? Any health issues in the tank aside from this (ich, gasping, recent mortalities)
I know things do disintegrate really quickly in a reef tank, especially with hermits and snails on the job. 3 in one night is curious though. Do you have any anemones? I am pretty stumped. I know mine disappear when they have eggs, the pair will guard the cave and they will not like the 3rd wheel fish, which is usually killed or driven off. So maybe they have decided to settle down and raise a fishy family. In that case other than feeding you wouldn't see them much. My chromis change color while doing this, one gets a blackened dorsal (probably the male) and some argyle patterns will flash accross their bodies-some form of communication. Some spawning chromis get a yellow anal fin as well. Not all will guard the eggs, but they are related to clownfish... some spawn scattering eggs over plants, some clear an acropora and spawn on that and others spawn in caves. Some guard the eggs, others don't.
Kate

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Live rock in tank? Add any recently? Ever think of predatory hitchhiker that is killing and pulling carcass back into the rock?

 

[burning2nd]

watch out for that spike if that is the case,

how big is the tank?

3 fish at once if not eating quick could f things up

 

[shallowreef]

I would look in your sump too just in case they made it past the overflow

Very wierd that no bodies have been found anywhere?

 

[burning2nd]

ur talking 2 days now, what ever bodys where there aint there now.

melt down

 

[Juanfer]

Did you already check if there is any mantis shrimp hidden in your rock???
How are the other fish doing??

 

[wendi]

How do you check for mantis shrimp? I have had a shrimp disappear and a clown that was attacked. Also had a lyre tail attacked. I have 2 tangs, 1 cra, lobster, hermit crab and a damsel. I'm sure they aren't eating and attacking my other fish.

 

[Juanfer]

then you might have a mantis, have you ever hear a little noise in your live rock?????

 

[tike]

BURP! Sorry I was a little hungry:lol:

But really....I would be suspect of the lobster. I am pretty sure at night it goes a prowlin'. I would remove it and see if the attacks stop.