Chromis' missing?!?

talon4x4 · 05-31-2007, 09:31 AM

Two days ago I added three blue/green chromis' to my 35 gal tank. There was already a domino, sally lightfoot, brittle star and a jumbo turbo snail (I've never seen a turbo snail this big before!!) in there. This morning I get up and 2 of the 3 are missing. I thought maybe they were hiding in the rock work, so I dropped in some food. Nothing!! Who would have eaten them?? I wouldn't think the domino just for the simple fact that he didn't evev bother them. He checked them out when I first added them and left them alone after that.

Any ideas?!?!

luvmylo · 05-31-2007, 09:35 AM

how old is the tank?? what are your paremeters?? could they be dead behind your rock??

frankandmaura · 05-31-2007, 09:36 AM

I say the Domino...they are pretty annoying little buggers. And if he is bigger, I am sure he bullied them when you weren't looking. If there is no trace of them, I'll bet your Sally picked em clean over night. Sorry for your loss...

2tanksrunnin · 05-31-2007, 09:38 AM

I have had a few jump out before. Your domino is probably chasing them since it is a very territorial fish, and they are newly added fish to a your 35. My dogs have always got to the fish before I could. A few times I have found them laying dried up on my couch!!!

talon4x4 · 05-31-2007, 10:03 AM

They couldn't have jumped out, the hood covers the entire top.

I wasn't thinking the of sally lightfoot, I thought it only ate algae. Until I threw in a couple small pieces of fresh shrimp and she literally jump half way up the tank from the bottom of the tank to get one. I wonder if sally got 'em while they were sleeping in the rocks last night?!?

Darn crabs!!! They are so cool to watch to. I figured stay away from the hermits and I would be good. Live and learn.

I wonder if I should move the lone chromis in my 35gal over to the 55gal where there are already 5 chromis'???? Any thought?!?

Geoff · 05-31-2007, 10:26 AM

you can never trust a crab.

G~

Loverotties · 05-31-2007, 10:58 AM

And never trust the brittle star.

kyrie_eleison · 06-01-2007, 01:32 AM

You know what? I have a VERY SIMILAR SETUP in my reef tank! A domino, 3 chromis', some turbo snails and SALLY LIGHTFOOT! One evening my wife tells me that one of the chromis' are missing. I looked everywhere in that tank. Nothing! Later that evening, my wife says to me...LOOK! It's the chromis (lying on the floor next to the tank). It had jumped out. Amazing. Sally Lightfoot is somewhat opportunistic but I've never had a fish casuality due to Sally.

Anita · 07-15-2007, 01:26 PM

I think the brittle star would be the #1 suspect ...

Hop · 07-15-2007, 01:46 PM

I never trust a chromis! They are notorious for harassing/bullying each other until one dies and then they move to the next target. I'm guessing that the biggest one caused the others to jump, hide where they became prey for something else or wound up in the sump/filtration.

I had 5 if I recall and two were bullied and died. When I moved to the big tank I brought my numbers up to 11 and over the last two years I'm down to 6. They seem to stay at six, although they still pick on the runt, but he has good survival insticts and has made it for a long time.

In looking over threads the last two or three years, I've found that there is no tank size, perfect number, or feeding ritual that stops or changes this behavior. Some people have luck of the draw, but I recall most people have trouble keeping groups despite their so-called peaceful nature

I hope you find them just hiding and good luck!

talon4x4 · 07-15-2007, 05:02 PM

Never found them, I'm sure they were eaten. Probably bullied, died, eaten. I'm even more convinced after I found my sally light foot eating yet another snail. So now there is one lone chromis. I still have my original 5 in my 55gal. All get along with each other and everyone else.