Vanishing Tetra - Please Help!

[Fridays Child]

Hi all,

I'm totally new to tropical fish having only started up my aquarium about a month ago, so please bear with me and my many stupid questions.

I started my tank up with a plec and 7 penguin tetras which was fine - then today I took a sample of the tank water into the aquarium store where I am buying my fish from and that was tested and everything was as it should be according to the supplier. He then asked what fish I wanted to add to the tank next and I asked for some neon tetras which he said would be fine in a community tank.

Anyway I got them home, floated the bags as usual and then netted the fish and let them into the tank. All was fine until I went to have a closer look at them after I'd finished my dinner and one of the tetras has just vanished. I've checked through the plants in the tank, behind and inside the castle decoration/house they've got, even inside the filter - but its just not there anymore - can anyone shed some light on this for me please?

I'd really appreciate it if you can help - many thanks

Laura x

 

[Faythee]

I have had this happen to me before and they later re-appeared. It may be hiding. How big are Penguin Tetras ?

 

[kpintheshed]

when you floated, the bag did you mix your water with the store?
so the neons could get use to it. do you have a hood because if you are sure that its not in the aquarium it may of jumped out but neons don't normally do that. it may be hidding in a spot you don't know about, i find that when neons are added to quickly or just shock, stress they tend to hide and for a few day(s) there colour fades in the day. there colours will fade at night though so don't be alarmed if that happens. one of my neons hid under apple snail and unfortunatley got cushed

if stress is the case, i would leave your tank and not move anything because you might cause more stress

you will properly see him tomorrow.

good luck

 

[Fridays Child]

Thanks very much for your quick replies guys.

Faythee - The penguins are about 2.5cm long I guess, but quite a bit broader/deeper than the neons. They're lovely!

Kpintheshed - I didn't mix my water with what was in the bag, all I was told to do was float it for about 20 minutes to get them used to temperature.. I didn't even think about adding my water to the bag, I feel really bad now
Yeah my tank has got a hood so it can't have jumped out, hopefully it will reappear by the morning, fingers crossed.

Thanks again for your replies, I really do appreciate it x

 

[Ace Of Spades]

My Dainos got shook, and I thought id lost one of them but he had found a gap in one of the ornaments which is was hiding in, turned out to be his downfull when I was cleaning my tank i accidently curshes the poor bugger, Now he is R.I.Ping in HELL!!! LOL j/k

 

[pat3612]

Just a note that might help try to get a small tank for new fish this way you can put them in there for a couple of weeks then transfer them to your other tank this help to cut down on disease getting into your tank hope this helps Pat.

 

[rdd1952]

Not mixing tank water isn't necessarily a bad thing. A lot of people use the "plop" method of acclimating just like you did, especially on fish bought online that have been bagged for a day or more because of the amount of ammonia in the bag water. Floating them for 15 minutes and then letting them adjust for temperature is fairly common. The biggest threat is from a large change in the hardness of the water. But if you bought the fish locally, that shouldn't be an issue.

It's quite possible that he was injured in netting at the LFS. I'm had fish that were dead when I got them home (20 minute drive) because they were mashed or something when they netted them. Too many LFS employees don't know how to net fish and pin them against the side of the tank. If he did die, it's very likely the pleco ate the remains.