Hello fellow reefers,
I’m reaching out because I’m facing a troubling situation in my 265g reef aquarium, and I could really use your expertise and advice.
The Issue:
Over the past several months, I’ve noticed that my smaller fish keep going missing, and several of my medium-sized fish are showing signs of injury that appear overnight. For example:
• One of my pintail wrasses woke up with a clean, straight cut down its tail—it looks as if it was cut with scissors.
• Some fish have scraped mouths in the morning.
• The injuries are happening overnight, and I haven’t observed any aggressive behavior during the day.
Tank Details:
Fish
• Anthias (male and female)
• Blue Throat Triggerfish
• Purple Tang
• Yellow Tang
• Large Naso Tang
• Large Vlamingi Tang
• 2x Pintail Wrasses
• 2x Blue Chromis
• Diamond Goby
• 4x Clownfish
• 2x Quoyi Parrotfish
• 2x Purple Tilefish
Invertebrates:
• Purple Reef Lobster
• Coral Banded Shrimp
I’ve had anything from firefish and diamond gobies, to a Midas Blennie just disappear completely. As I mentioned before, some more Bing I can tell fish have been in a fight.
What I’ve Considered So Far:
• Purple Reef Lobster: Aware that they can be nocturnal predators, but the injuries seem too severe and clean-cut for a lobster.
• Coral Banded Shrimp: Known to be aggressive, but again, the type of injuries don’t quite match.
Possible Hitchhikers:
• Bobbit Worm
• Spearer Mantis Shrimp (I’ve removed 3 already over the past year).
Why I Need a Camera:
I want to identify the exact cause without dismantling my entire aquascape. Setting up an overnight camera seems like the best approach to catch the culprit in action.
• I’m hesitant to start removing live rock or disrupting the tank without knowing what’s causing the problem.
• All water parameters are normal, and the fish are healthy otherwise.
• Feeding schedule and amounts are consistent; overfeeding isn’t likely attracting unwanted pests.
Thank you in advance for your help!
I’m reaching out because I’m facing a troubling situation in my 265g reef aquarium, and I could really use your expertise and advice.
The Issue:
Over the past several months, I’ve noticed that my smaller fish keep going missing, and several of my medium-sized fish are showing signs of injury that appear overnight. For example:
• One of my pintail wrasses woke up with a clean, straight cut down its tail—it looks as if it was cut with scissors.
• Some fish have scraped mouths in the morning.
• The injuries are happening overnight, and I haven’t observed any aggressive behavior during the day.
Tank Details:
Fish
• Anthias (male and female)
• Blue Throat Triggerfish
• Purple Tang
• Yellow Tang
• Large Naso Tang
• Large Vlamingi Tang
• 2x Pintail Wrasses
• 2x Blue Chromis
• Diamond Goby
• 4x Clownfish
• 2x Quoyi Parrotfish
• 2x Purple Tilefish
Invertebrates:
• Purple Reef Lobster
• Coral Banded Shrimp
I’ve had anything from firefish and diamond gobies, to a Midas Blennie just disappear completely. As I mentioned before, some more Bing I can tell fish have been in a fight.
What I’ve Considered So Far:
• Purple Reef Lobster: Aware that they can be nocturnal predators, but the injuries seem too severe and clean-cut for a lobster.
• Coral Banded Shrimp: Known to be aggressive, but again, the type of injuries don’t quite match.
Possible Hitchhikers:
• Bobbit Worm
• Spearer Mantis Shrimp (I’ve removed 3 already over the past year).
Why I Need a Camera:
I want to identify the exact cause without dismantling my entire aquascape. Setting up an overnight camera seems like the best approach to catch the culprit in action.
• I’m hesitant to start removing live rock or disrupting the tank without knowing what’s causing the problem.
• All water parameters are normal, and the fish are healthy otherwise.
• Feeding schedule and amounts are consistent; overfeeding isn’t likely attracting unwanted pests.
Thank you in advance for your help!
