Another Clownfish Disappearance.

[n3ont3tra]

The smaller of the two clownfish disappeared...

Tank is 37g. 55lbs of live rock. Currently stacked in two islands.
I have a midas blenny, a firefish, 2 (maybe) sebae clowns, and just added a pair of flame hawks

I added the flame hawks on Friday. I rearranged the tank on Saturday because they were being chased constantly by the blenny and clowns even with the lights off. Also the firefish wasn't getting enough to eat. Tuesday the clown disappeared. I was away on monday and my mom fed them and added some RO. She said she saw the small clown eat. Then Sunday he was nowhere in sight. I haven't seen him since then. He always sleeps behind the powerhead, in the (small) gap between the MJ and the wall. He hadn't been there. I looked all around and I can't see him anywhere. He hasn't come out to eat. I'm assuming the worst by now. No ammonia, I tested every day. Any ideas on why he disappeared? I'm guessing he just got stuck in the rock somewhere. But I'm pretty sure it didn't collapse on him or anything. And I seriously doubt the hawks would kill him before the cleaner shrimp.

 

[steelhealr]

n3...I"m not trying to flame you (no pun intended), but hawkfish are semi-aggressive. They can be belligerent with smaller fish like blennies and gobies and, in general, have to be housed with the appropriate tankmates. Although there is no rule about adding them or not, the only fish that I consistently read about with aggression...are hawks and dottybacks (not saying don't get them).

I read up a little bit about them since I don't own one and apparently there is a compatibility issue in your tank. Not sure why you added the hawk. As for the disappearance of the clown...stress? hiding? attacked by the flame? Unclear.I'm sorry about your loss. BTW...are your hawks a paired mate? SH

 

[n3ont3tra]

n3...I"m not trying to flame you (no pun intended), but hawkfish are semi-aggressive. They can be belligerent with smaller fish like blennies and gobies and, in general, have to be housed with the appropriate tankmates. Although there is no rule about adding them or not, the only fish that I consistently read about with aggression...are hawks and dottybacks (not saying don't get them).

I read up a little bit about them since I don't own one and apparently there is a compatibility issue in your tank. Not sure why you added the hawk. As for the disappearance of the clown...stress? hiding? attacked by the flame? Unclear.I'm sorry about your loss. BTW...are your hawks a paired mate? SH

First, yes they're paired...

As for aggression... I always thought they were peaceful except towards shrimp and very small gobies. I made sure the firefish was fully grown before I added them and I made sure they were the last fish to be added. I haven't seen any aggression from the hawkfish towards any of the other fish at all. I'm definately not adding any more fish...

By the way, my blenny isn't exactly what I would call 'small'... he's fully grown.

I don't understand why the clown would've been stressed by the hawks, since he was the one doing the chasing.

 

[Lynden]

I have kept two hawks, the arc-eye and the falco. Both are usually noted as being more aggressive than the flame, yet they never hit any of my fish (small gobies, clowns, and blennies back then) that they were larger than. In any case, the firefish would be a much sooner target than the clowns, and sebae clowns are tough fish, for a clown. Either way, as the hawks were recently introduced, I doubt they would be very aggressive yet, especially as they appear to be the ones getting bullied.

Keep an eye out for the clown... may turn up eventually. Can't imagine why he would have died, seeing as you've had him for a while. Probably, as you said, stuck in a rock somewhere.

 

[matt295]

in my 50 gallon tank, i have 4 firefish and 2 seem to be a pair and are always out but there are 2 that are always hiding in the rocks and only come out for food. This could be what happened to your clown. i dont know why the firefish are hiding but i am trying to catch them and return to my lfs.

 

[chrissaysyes]

Every single percula clown save one has disappeared one day out of the blue. I think they just like to die alone.

 

[1entra]

Mate sorry to hear about your loss. I bought a pair of coral sea percs on staurday and added them to my tank after slowly acclimatising them. Well anyways they looked a bit stressed the day after and when the lights went off they kept swimming up and down in one corner of the tank. When feeding however I made sure they both got some food.

I also have a yellowtail damsel and a purple firefish in the tank.

Well this morning when I got up for work, the lights were still of and I seen both clownfish but when I returned this evening my clownfish had completely disapeared also. Ive searched everywhere but cant find him. Ive got a netted cover on my tank with a 1cm gap on either side and really doubt it could have jumped out of there and there is no body anywhere either in the tank or outside!

I assume the little fella is a goner however and I'm sorry to say but it may be the same case with yours!

My other clown is swimming around the tank all by itself looking abit lost and I'm worried about it. My params are all fine so not had no spike in ammonia or anything really!

Anyway just thought I'd share that with you!

 

[andyourblueblood]

do you have an overflow??? my clowns used to always jump in my overflow. the first time one went missing it was about 2 weeks before i found it. after that i always knew where to look when it went missing....best of luck finding it!!!!

 

[andyourblueblood]

any luck finding them?

 

[n3ont3tra]

No, I don't have an overflow and no, I haven't found him
The other fish and shrimp are doing great, though.