Disappearing Fish?

[petal040]

Hello, wondering if you can help...

We have a tank which today contains four x-ray tetras, three glow light tetras, two medium size clown loaches, a strange medium sized fish (around three inches long, golden coloured, generic fish shaped) and a largish angel fish (around seven inches diameter?).

All of the fish have lived together for I think just over three years apart from the generic shaped fish which we found had been left in a tank when we moved into our current home about a year ago.

We used to have two angels but one died several months ago. Since then, two glow light tetras and an x-ray have disappeared, no bodies to be found. We also had a very small clown loach who was always a bit deformed and had a cloudy eye (he was like that when we got him three years ago and has never grown in size, while the other two have). We realised today that the small loach has also disappeared - no body can be found.

Could it be that the angel is eating fish? The tank seems a little empty now and we would like to get some more fish but are afraid they would be eaten. The angel is the largest fish in the tank. We never see him nipping other fish though and there are plenty of hiding places for the loaches. It's a mystery!!

 

[KittyKat]

More information please: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/2330-please-read-before-posting-to-emergency-section/

I don't think it is the angel.. how big are the other fish? More information will help determine what the problem could be.

 

[petal040]

Hi sorry I am posting from a phone that I find very difficult to use. The tank is approximately 185litres, ammonia and nitrite both 0 nitrate very low around 5. Don't have kits for ph or hardness. Tank is established, fish are listed above. The tetras are around 3 inches long I think, the loaches around 5. I know the tank is small for the loaches didn't realise when I bought them. No illness or disease as far as I can tell.

 

[Louiseness]

Could you possibly get a pic of the 'generic shaped fish'? MAybe we could tell you if it's likely to be eating the others or not, it's a possibility.

 

[KittyKat]

It could be the "generic" fish.. it's not a goldfish, is it?

What decor do you have? Is it well planted? How often do you do water changes? How old would you judge the tetras to be?

Also, is there any specific reason you do not keep schools of the tetra?

 

[petal040]

Hi - sorry for the slow reply, not had a chance to post again until now.

I don't think the generic shaped fish is a goldfish. I have tried to get a picture but struggled to get a clear one - I'll post what I got anyway. It is a little bigger than the tetras, maybe 3.5 or 4 inches long? The missing loach was similar size to the tetras.

There are no living plants in the tank at the moment. There is wood, stones and a sunken plane tank ornament. We do water changes fortnightly (quarter of a tank approx).

The tetras are about three years old. We used to have five of each until three disappeared recently.

I am attaching the pics.

 

[KittyKat]

That fish is a golden barb.

I can't say what happened to the smaller fish, although my money would be on the loaches if I had to pick a culprit.. I will recommend that you increase maintenance to weekly and if no more of the fish go missing after a month or two, increase the barb and tetra groups to 8-10 of each species, if the tank allows it, and the loach group to at least 6, also if the tank allows it, keeping in mind that adult clown loaches should have a 6+*2*2 ft tank.

 

[petal040]

Thanks for the reply. Would the loaches have eaten one of their own cos he was so small? Those three had been together since birth.

Tank isn't big enough for loaches but I will increase the tetra numbers. What are barbs like for waste etc? The tank is approx 185 litres. Also would my large angel eat the new tetras?

 

[moochy13]

fish will happily eat dead fish, might explain why you cant find them. from my experience angels are only interested in small, torpedo shaped fish that will fit in its mouth. i have a medium sized angel that im pretty sure has easten neons, but is not remotely interested in cherry barbs, which are small and torpedo shaped.

 

[KittyKat]

You should be ok with the following stocking, but I would recommend that you buy large tetras, not babies, or the angel may go for them:
* 10 x-ray
* 10 glowlight
* 6-10 golden barbs
* 2 clowns (you should find them a bigger home, as you can't provide one for them)
* 1 angel

Stock slowly, of course.