Fish disappearing

[Emma_fish]

So originally I had 2 clowns, 1 watchman goby, 1 blood shrimp and a peacock wrasse in my 53Gallon tank (+snails) , then after about 6months, I had 1 clown and no peacock wrasse or fire shrimp and a lot less snails. First my shrimp went, then the wrasse then one of the clowns. No dead bodies and I have a lid on my tank so nothing got out.
The other week I went out and got a new clown for my remaining clown and a filefish (aptasia ) but today my original clown that I had left has gone missing, and I don’t know what is happening
It isn’t even about the fact that these fish aren’t cheap, I want to know where the heck they are because I can’t lie, it hurts when I lose one of them!
I know it’s the nature of the hobby but surely this much unexplained loss isn’t normal, is it?

 

[AydenLincoln]

Not normal. What kind of rock did you use? Is it possible you have a mantis shrimp or something else that hitchhiked? They will eat fish and leave no evidence…as they hunt at night.

 

[fishski13]

did you use live rock from the ocean? Maybe you have a bobbit

 

[Emma_fish]

Not normal. What kind of rock did you use? Is it possible you have a mantis shrimp or something else that hitchhiked? They will eat fish and leave no evidence…as they hunt at night.

I used dry marco rock from my lfs + some rock from my old tank (which I also bought dry) that I broke down, I had none of these problem in that tank though
Lights are off now and I have just been with a torch and I can’t see anything apart from my filefish, my remaining clown looking sad because my BTA is closed up aha and my watchman goby

 

[GHOSTLY]

My friend dealt with bobbit worms. He lost like 3 beautiful tangs. Is there any fish around the area that could of jumped out?

 

[Emma_fish]

did you use live rock from the ocean? Maybe you have a bobbit

even just that word gives me shivers, how would I know if I did ?

 

[Emma_fish]

My friend dealt with bobbit worms. He lost like 3 beautiful tangs. Is there any fish around the area that could have jumped out?

Doubt it, there’s a lid on my tank and even if I didn’t, I have never found any corpses on the ground around the tank so I don’t think they’re jumping out

 

[fishski13]

even just that word gives me shivers, how would I know if I did ?

I doubt you have it if you have used all dry rock and never used live rock. These guys comes in on live rock as hitchhikers, probably the only way they can get into your tank.

As for how would you know, they usually come out at night and they are pretty big so you would be able to see them

 

[Dave1993]

did you use live rock from the ocean? Maybe you have a bobbit

could be this but you wanna hope it isn't

 

[Garf]

Doubt it, there’s a lid on my tank and even if I didn’t, I have never found any corpses on the ground around the tank so I don’t think they’re jumping out

You got a tank pic? If you’ve masses of rock there’s a chance a sickness is takin them out and they’re getting lodged somewhere, till they get eaten.

 

[LgTas]

You got a tank pic? If you’ve masses of rock there’s a chance a sickness is takin them out and they’re getting lodged somewhere, till they get eaten.

I lost a damsel like this. Got a fright and jammed itself in between some rock. Only found the skeleton when i rescaped

 

[i cant think]

even just that word gives me shivers, how would I know if I did ?

That’s the thing… You don’t.

I have dealt with too many bobbit worms, they go undetected for a long period of time then slowly one by one your fish and inverts begin to vanish. Have you added any coral that is brought in on rock, for example Leathers like large sinularia?

My first hitch hikers were 4 hobbit worms, the smallest was 4 inches and the largest was Atleast 14 inches. The only way I found them were by watching at night when they were most active (Which is rare, these guys don’t leave their holes often). You have to watch your rock every night for a good week until you find them.

Once you find them, it’s really a game of are you willing to get rid of the whole rock or smash it up.

As for a mantis, these guys are very similar and only really get noticed by certain sounds IME. Usually you find bones around the hole they hide in. However to get these guys out, it’s rather easy as you can setup a trap and check the trap every morning.

 

[Emma_fish]

That’s the thing… You don’t.

I have dealt with too many bobbit worms, they go undetected for a long period of time then slowly one by one your fish and inverts begin to vanish. Have you added any coral that is brought in on rock, for example Leathers like large sinularia?

My first hitch hikers were 4 hobbit worms, the smallest was 4 inches and the largest was Atleast 14 inches. The only way I found them were by watching at night when they were most active (Which is rare, these guys don’t leave their holes often). You have to watch your rock every night for a good week until you find them.

Once you find them, it’s really a game of are you willing to get rid of the whole rock or smash it up.

As for a mantis, these guys are very similar and only really get noticed by certain sounds IME. Usually you find bones around the hole they hide in. However to get these guys out, it’s rather easy as you can setup a trap and check the trap every morning.

I watched it last night and haven’t seen anything but like you say, it might take many nights of watching

I did add Two leathers on rocks now that I come to think of it, but I don’t think the rock has any holes in as such?

 

[Emma_fish]

You got a tank pic? If you’ve masses of rock there’s a chance a sickness is takin them out and they’re getting lodged somewhere, till they get eaten.

Lights are off atm but I’ve just put the room light on, I will take another when the lights come on later

 

[i cant think]

When I say on a rock, I mean things like this (These are my Purple Sinularia, Blue Sinularia and Green Kenya Tree Leathers).

Each of these came on their own separate rock and had to be dipped. I found a mantis in the rock with the Kenya and I didn’t even hear or see anything strange with it. They really can hide until given a food source.

 

[Emma_fish]

When I say on a rock, I mean things like this (These are my Purple Sinularia, Blue Sinularia and Green Kenya Tree Leathers).
View attachment 2889666
View attachment 2889668
View attachment 2889667
Each of these came on their own separate rock and had to be dipped. I found a mantis in the rock with the Kenya and I didn’t even hear or see anything strange with it. They really can hide until given a food source.

This one of the rocks, if it gives you a better idea

 

[i cant think]

This one of the rocks, if it gives you a better idea

Did you check the underside of the rock to make sure it has absolutely no holes in it?

 

[Yehuda Dana]

אולי זה יכול לעזור:

Bobbit or Eunice Worm easy trap

This guy has been in my tank over a year and has behaved perfect, not like all the horror stories you read. He only eats algae and stuff on the sand. I have never lost a fish or any corals, hard or soft. The other day I noticed he was getting to big so I decided its time to go. I setup this trap...

www.reef2reef.com

‏

 

[Emma_fish]

Did you check the underside of the rock to make sure it has absolutely no holes in it?

Yes, there’s like the little tiny holes but nothing that a giant worm could live in

 

[Emma_fish]

אולי זה יכול לעזור:

Bobbit or Eunice Worm easy trap

This guy has been in my tank over a year and has behaved perfect, not like all the horror stories you read. He only eats algae and stuff on the sand. I have never lost a fish or any corals, hard or soft. The other day I noticed he was getting to big so I decided its time to go. I setup this trap...

www.reef2reef.com

‏

Thanks, I will have a look