Clownfish disappears after one day

dericky · 05/17/2012, 12:46 AM

I introduced two clownfish into my tank on Monday. I had a large one and a smaller one. They were the first fish I put in my tank, so it was just them two hanging out. On Tuesday, they seemed to be getting along fine with each other and the tank. I went out Tuesday night, and when I got home at 11, the smaller clownfish was missing! I took out all the live rock, checked the filter, and looking in all my hoses. I even looked on the ground around the tank, but he is no where to be found! The hood on the tank only leaves a small strip in the back uncovered (where the filter hoses and cords go into the tank), so it is very unlikely that he managed to jump out there. And even if he did, I didn't find him on the floor behind the tank.

It is very unlikely that he went into the filter, because the intake in very small, and he would have had to travel through a 5/8" plastic tube all the way to the fluval filter. And once the water enters the filter, it has to pass through the plastic propeller. So I really doubt that is what happened to him. And by taking apart the whole tank, I am positive that he was not hiding someplace in the rocks.

Could the larger clownfish eat him?? The small one still seemed too large for his partner to eat! Plus, wouldn't I see some sort of remains if the larger one tried to snack on him? There was nothing in the tank..

I am afraid to introduce more fish, because I don't want to mysteriously lose them as well. Not to mention the money that has vanished... Does anyone have any idea or experience with something like this? Thank you.

james-lee · 05/17/2012, 12:49 AM

Do you have any other pets such as dogs or cats? I have read stories where peoples fish went carpet surfing and their other pets swooped in for a meal.

Nuclear_Glitter · 05/17/2012, 12:52 AM

I hope you can manage to figure out what happened. Be sure to check everything REALLY good. My boyfriend's betta fish once went missing and we dug around the whole tank for him and didn't find him, then we looked around on the floor, didn't find him, and then dug around the tank again, and he was under the rocks.

Nuclear_Glitter · 05/17/2012, 12:58 AM

Do you have any corals?

klwheat · 05/17/2012, 11:41 AM

I know you said no other fish were in the tank...any other stock? corals/anems etc?

phender · 05/17/2012, 11:51 AM

If you have live rock it probably came with a large assortment of critters (crabs, mantis, pistol shrimp, bristle worms, etc.) than could finish off a small dead fish in a matter of hours.

dericky · 05/17/2012, 05:32 PM

Thanks for everyone's input. Besides the other clownish, I dont have any other fish or corals in the tank. I do have some blue legged crabs, but only like 8. There is a window of about 6 hours when he went missing. My door was shut, so my dog couldn't have eaten it if it got on the floor.

My friend said that he was losing fish, and he discovered a huge worm in his live rock. He said it was 1.5' long. What would that be?

phender · 05/18/2012, 02:50 PM

That would be a bristle worm.
Live rock come with all the critters I mentioned whether you want them in there or not. Take a look at your tank at night some time with a flashlight. You will be amazed at all the animals, large and small, that made their way into your tank on/in the live rock.

05/17/2012, 12:46 AM	#1
dericky Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 5	Clownfish disappears after one day I introduced two clownfish into my tank on Monday. I had a large one and a smaller one. They were the first fish I put in my tank, so it was just them two hanging out. On Tuesday, they seemed to be getting along fine with each other and the tank. I went out Tuesday night, and when I got home at 11, the smaller clownfish was missing! I took out all the live rock, checked the filter, and looking in all my hoses. I even looked on the ground around the tank, but he is no where to be found! The hood on the tank only leaves a small strip in the back uncovered (where the filter hoses and cords go into the tank), so it is very unlikely that he managed to jump out there. And even if he did, I didn't find him on the floor behind the tank. It is very unlikely that he went into the filter, because the intake in very small, and he would have had to travel through a 5/8" plastic tube all the way to the fluval filter. And once the water enters the filter, it has to pass through the plastic propeller. So I really doubt that is what happened to him. And by taking apart the whole tank, I am positive that he was not hiding someplace in the rocks. Could the larger clownfish eat him?? The small one still seemed too large for his partner to eat! Plus, wouldn't I see some sort of remains if the larger one tried to snack on him? There was nothing in the tank.. I am afraid to introduce more fish, because I don't want to mysteriously lose them as well. Not to mention the money that has vanished... Does anyone have any idea or experience with something like this? Thank you.

05/17/2012, 12:49 AM	#2
james-lee Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 312	Do you have any other pets such as dogs or cats? I have read stories where peoples fish went carpet surfing and their other pets swooped in for a meal. __________________ Current inhabitants: ALOT! Current Tank Info: 225 gallon reef, ATI BM300, 75 gallon sump, 4x 120w LEDs, 48" CREE LED Strip, 2x Jebao WP40s

05/17/2012, 11:41 AM	#5
klwheat Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 298	I know you said no other fish were in the tank...any other stock? corals/anems etc? __________________ Check out my live feed of my Stingray tank! (listed as my homepage) login is wheatstingray password is stingray 280 gallon shallow reef system with California round stingray and Australian marbled cat shark among others :)

05/17/2012, 11:51 AM	#6
phender Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Yorba Linda, CA Posts: 4,182	If you have live rock it probably came with a large assortment of critters (crabs, mantis, pistol shrimp, bristle worms, etc.) than could finish off a small dead fish in a matter of hours. __________________ Phil Current Tank Info: 50 gal reef, 60 gal reef, 40 gal reef, 2-20 gal clownfish tanks which are also reefs.

05/18/2012, 02:50 PM	#8
phender Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Yorba Linda, CA Posts: 4,182	That would be a bristle worm. Live rock come with all the critters I mentioned whether you want them in there or not. Take a look at your tank at night some time with a flashlight. You will be amazed at all the animals, large and small, that made their way into your tank on/in the live rock. __________________ Phil Current Tank Info: 50 gal reef, 60 gal reef, 40 gal reef, 2-20 gal clownfish tanks which are also reefs.

05/17/2012, 12:52 AM	#3
Nuclear_Glitter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 23	I hope you can manage to figure out what happened. Be sure to check everything REALLY good. My boyfriend's betta fish once went missing and we dug around the whole tank for him and didn't find him, then we looked around on the floor, didn't find him, and then dug around the tank again, and he was under the rocks.

05/17/2012, 12:58 AM	#4
Nuclear_Glitter Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: North Carolina, USA Posts: 23	Do you have any corals?

05/17/2012, 05:32 PM	#7
dericky Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 5	Thanks for everyone's input. Besides the other clownish, I dont have any other fish or corals in the tank. I do have some blue legged crabs, but only like 8. There is a window of about 6 hours when he went missing. My door was shut, so my dog couldn't have eaten it if it got on the floor. My friend said that he was losing fish, and he discovered a huge worm in his live rock. He said it was 1.5' long. What would that be?