Fish missing, what should I do?

Gup_King · 10/25/2014, 07:53 AM

For the past few weeks I thought I was seeing 'something' in one of the holes of the live rock after dark but couldn't get a good look so just assumed it was my firefish's head. Last night I saw it and it didn't dart back inside when I got near the glass. I got a couple of pictures but they are very poor so not really worth sharing.

Admittedly I panicked a little bit and after failing to grab the crab with tweezers picked up the rock and tried to dig it out with the tweezers. In my haste I forgot that the firefish was in the same chunk of live rock. It was at least partially submerged throughout the whole ordeal and at a guess no more the a quarter of the rock was out of the water at any point. The rock is a reasonable size (about 3kg) with plenty of caves/tunnels but during the maybe 5 minutes I was trying to grab the crab I didn't see my firefish at all and to make matters worse I failed to catch the crab.

The tank lights came on about 3 hours ago and I still haven't seen my firefish, she's very cautious but spends the entire day in the open tank, so I'm very concerned.

I worry that maybe she became trapped in the commotion,possibly getting into a part of the rock where the only exit was sealed when I returned the rock to it's resting place but I'm wary of scaring an already terrified fish.

I realise I handled things pretty poorly and I've been kicking myself since, however I could really do with some advice. Should I be rushing to her aid or simply giving her time?

whosurcaddie · 10/25/2014, 08:05 AM

I highly doubt that you have trapped the fish. Firefish are very timid and the moving of the rock probably made it want to seek cover. Also you would be amazed at the size of crevices fish can fit themselves into if they want to get away from something they will. I would say give it a few days and relax. It will show itself when it gets hungry.

albano · 10/25/2014, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whosurcaddie

I highly doubt that you have trapped the fish. Firefish are very timid and the moving of the rock probably made it want to seek cover. Also you would be amazed at the size of crevices fish can fit themselves into if they want to get away from something they will. I would say give it a few days and relax. It will show itself when it gets hungry.

+1... And I've had live rock, shipped from Florida, dry but covered with wet newspaper, that had live fish emerge days later!

Gup_King · 10/25/2014, 08:27 AM

Thanks a lot. I assumed I was overreacting but it's my first tank and I've had some major issues because of a dodgy hydrometer so am a bit jumpy at the moment!

Sk8r · 10/25/2014, 10:11 AM

First, get a refractometer.

Second, they're pretty tough, but if you didn't catch the crab, that could have been a problem for the fish.

Gup_King · 10/25/2014, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

First, get a refractometer.

Second, they're pretty tough, but if you didn't catch the crab, that could have been a problem for the fish.

Way ahead of you. I got a refractometer as soon as I realised.

10/25/2014, 07:53 AM	#1
Gup_King Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 29	Fish missing, what should I do? For the past few weeks I thought I was seeing 'something' in one of the holes of the live rock after dark but couldn't get a good look so just assumed it was my firefish's head. Last night I saw it and it didn't dart back inside when I got near the glass. I got a couple of pictures but they are very poor so not really worth sharing. Admittedly I panicked a little bit and after failing to grab the crab with tweezers picked up the rock and tried to dig it out with the tweezers. In my haste I forgot that the firefish was in the same chunk of live rock. It was at least partially submerged throughout the whole ordeal and at a guess no more the a quarter of the rock was out of the water at any point. The rock is a reasonable size (about 3kg) with plenty of caves/tunnels but during the maybe 5 minutes I was trying to grab the crab I didn't see my firefish at all and to make matters worse I failed to catch the crab. The tank lights came on about 3 hours ago and I still haven't seen my firefish, she's very cautious but spends the entire day in the open tank, so I'm very concerned. I worry that maybe she became trapped in the commotion,possibly getting into a part of the rock where the only exit was sealed when I returned the rock to it's resting place but I'm wary of scaring an already terrified fish. I realise I handled things pretty poorly and I've been kicking myself since, however I could really do with some advice. Should I be rushing to her aid or simply giving her time?

10/25/2014, 10:11 AM	#5
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	First, get a refractometer. Second, they're pretty tough, but if you didn't catch the crab, that could have been a problem for the fish. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

10/25/2014, 08:05 AM	#2
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	I highly doubt that you have trapped the fish. Firefish are very timid and the moving of the rock probably made it want to seek cover. Also you would be amazed at the size of crevices fish can fit themselves into if they want to get away from something they will. I would say give it a few days and relax. It will show itself when it gets hungry.

10/25/2014, 08:27 AM	#4
Gup_King Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 29	Thanks a lot. I assumed I was overreacting but it's my first tank and I've had some major issues because of a dodgy hydrometer so am a bit jumpy at the moment!