CrustyReef45177
09-23-2011, 12:41 PM
Hey guys...looking for some thoughts on a problem we're having.
Over the months we've had a few fish "disappear" from the tank. No carcasses, nothing in the drain or overflow....just gone.
Last week we bought some new Purple Reef Chromises. We acclimatized them as normal and they were eating and swimming and interacting wih the other fish all week. They were there last night when I fed the critters and they were eating voraciously just like normal.
Today...no Reef Chromises are in the tank. The other fish are all there, but no Purple Chromises.
My wife thinks one of our Emerald Crabs could be the culprit as we have one that has grown pretty "large" compared to some of the others. This crab will raise its pincers in a menacing manner when fish swim close but I've never seen it actually try to grab a fish. My wife thinks the crab is stalking the sleeping fish at night and grabbing them in their hidey holes in the reef.
I'm beginning to think she may be right...but I'm still having a hard time believing this one critter could catch and consume three fish in one night, leaving no evidence of their existence on the rocks or bottom of the tank.
I do also have two small carpet anemones...but it seems odd to me that three fish would all swim into these anemones on the same night.
Any ideas? I heasitate to put any more fish in the tank until we figure this out. I am going to attempt to capture the crab the next time I see it out and about, but in the meantime I'm wondering what the group thinks.
Thanks.:eek:
Over the months we've had a few fish "disappear" from the tank. No carcasses, nothing in the drain or overflow....just gone.
Last week we bought some new Purple Reef Chromises. We acclimatized them as normal and they were eating and swimming and interacting wih the other fish all week. They were there last night when I fed the critters and they were eating voraciously just like normal.
Today...no Reef Chromises are in the tank. The other fish are all there, but no Purple Chromises.
My wife thinks one of our Emerald Crabs could be the culprit as we have one that has grown pretty "large" compared to some of the others. This crab will raise its pincers in a menacing manner when fish swim close but I've never seen it actually try to grab a fish. My wife thinks the crab is stalking the sleeping fish at night and grabbing them in their hidey holes in the reef.
I'm beginning to think she may be right...but I'm still having a hard time believing this one critter could catch and consume three fish in one night, leaving no evidence of their existence on the rocks or bottom of the tank.
I do also have two small carpet anemones...but it seems odd to me that three fish would all swim into these anemones on the same night.
Any ideas? I heasitate to put any more fish in the tank until we figure this out. I am going to attempt to capture the crab the next time I see it out and about, but in the meantime I'm wondering what the group thinks.
Thanks.:eek: