Death!

[fishwatcher]

My watchman goby has been killed. I say killed bc he was perfectly fine Saturday morning and evening, swimming with the clown a bit, eating. I noticed last night there was a slight tear on one of his fins and he was perched on the starfish (who was high up on the wall at the time). I really thought nothing of it and went on to bed. Yesterday morning I wake up to find all of his fins shredded, him breathing hard, not swimming much, laying on the bottom. I had an appointment so I had to leave for a few hours. When I got back I couldn't find him... I even moved all the rock around and still NOTHING.
I tested my water and all the stats are great... the other inhabitants are doing great, too.
What has happened to him??? I am beginning to think a peppermint shrimp attacked him (I have 2), or maybe one of the hermits (I have 2 zebras, a couple blue-legged and red-legged).
I am thinking of taking the shrimp back, but want to make sure it's even possible before I do that.
Please help!!
Thank you!!

 

[SkiFletch]

My guess would be a hitch hiking crab that you haven't seen yet. Peppermint shrimp dont do that kind of thing. They would scavenge the body of the fish once dead, but would not kill it.

 

[fishwatcher]

What should I do then? I haven't (obviously) seen any life from the rocks, so how do I find out what it is and get rid of it? I want to replace my fish, but not if it's going to kill it again.
I have seen the zebra hermit attack one of my snails... he killed/ate it and then left the shell laying there. I got there too late to help it. Could it be one of the hermits?
Thanks, SkiFletch!

 

[SkiFletch]

Heh, because they dont usually have shells on their backs, hermits pretty much leave fish alone

I'd suggest a flashlight with red plastic wrap over the lens (to make red light) and use that to search about the tank at night. Red light doesnt disturb most reef critters. Might have a better chance oc seeing any hitch hikers that way

 

[fishwatcher]

I'll do that tonight, then. My little boy has a red flash light (for whatever reason!).
I spoke with the lfs I've gotten everything from thus far, and he mentioned that maybe the clown fish did it... something about the goby swimming in his territory or something. Do you think that is a possibility, too?

 

[Lynden]

My enormous Dardanus crab could have easily killed any of my fish, but he didn't.

 

[AK77]

Hi,

I agree with Ski, Peppermint shrimps are very timid creatures and there is no way they'd attack and kill a fish, only pick on the carcus of one. Its possible that it was the clownfish, but I'd be pretty surprised. What species of clown do you have? Are there any other fish in the tank?

 

[fishwatcher]

It's a tanked-raised ocellaris. About 1 1/2" long. Very cute, but not the best eater yet. Going to try some garlic today.
Just the CUC as tankmates. Though there numbers seem to be falling, too. I had 8-10 hermits, and now can only find out 3-4, even during feeding time. One of my peppermints did molt today though. I found his molt hanging about the tank and at first freaked out bc it was folded in half and I couldn't tell what it was! LOL
This morning I thought I heard some clicking sounds... hoping it's not equipment failure, but it sounded kind of odd.

ETA: Not sure why I told you about the clicking, just seemed like any info could help at this point.
Thanks!

 

[SkiFletch]

Actually the clicking sound could indicate the presencce of a predatory shrimp, either a pistol shrimp, or a mantis shrimp are possible with clicking sounds. I'll caution you not to jump to conclusions on this as there are many saltwater inverts capable of making audible clicking noises.

Did you look with a flashlight?

And do you know where your Live Rock was collected?

 

[AK77]

Hmm clicking sounds. Well if its not the equipment making the noise, you might have a hitchhiking pistol shrimp or something. If it is a rogue crab you have in your tank, try getting an old 500ml soda bottle, cut it in half so that the bottom section is about 4 inches long. Then place it vertically amongst your live rock. place some food in the bottom and check it a few times a day to see if anything has gone in there. With any luck, if there is a hitchhiker in there, he'll go for the food and the sides of the plastic bottle should be too smooth for him to escape.

Try testing it first on one of your hermits. Place one inside and see if it can escape. If it cannot get out of the bottle, then your trap should work.

*edit* lol Ski you beat me to it haha.

 

[fishwatcher]

I got 2 new pieces of cured LR from the lfs the day I switched the tank over (from the 20g to the 30g) and the day after is when my fish was killed. I had sat it in a bucket of new water (ready to fill my tank with) while I changed everything over, but nothing came out/moved that I saw). I have no idea where it was actually collected from originally, but I may can find out.
So there are things that make that noise?? I assumed it was equipment, though it wasn't very "mechanical" sounding that you mention the other possibility. It wasn't a regulated sound - just a few clicks, then a little time, then a few more clicks, off and on for a few minutes. I haven't heard anything since, though.
I tried to see last night for a few minutes, but I wasn't able to sit for long. Maybe tonight I'll have more time to watch.
I'll try that trap now... hopefully it'll come up with something. I just don't want to replace a fish to have it eaten again, nor do I want to assume it's the clown and get rid of him if that's not the problem.
Thanks for the idea, guys!

ETA: If it is a shrimp of some kind, will they come out in the day, or will I have to set the trap at night, too?

 

[AK77]

Clowns can be territorial but, usually this is when they are a breeding pair defending their eggs. I have 3 in my display tank, and the only time there has been any fighting is when I had the 4th clown in there. The last false percula lives in the sump for now, until I can get it rehomed.

None of the other fish have been attacked by the clownfish, so personally I think the probability that the clown did this to your goby, is low. You'd be amazed at what actually lives in LR that remains unnoticed for a while. I'm planning on getting another 5-10 KG of LR, bringing me up to 35-40kg in a 180L tank. I'm going to quarantine the stuff first though in a seperate tank, set up a few traps and keep an eye out for unwanted additions.

The goby being a bottom dwelling fish, would lend itself to being a target for a rogue crab or somethign of that nature, so think Ski may well be on the right track here.

 

[fishwatcher]

If it is something on the bottom bothering things, that would explain why he was up on the starfish hanging out (almost at the top of the tank wall). I should have realized something was up then, I guess.
At least now I know that when things don't look quite right, they probably aren't.
now, to set a trap...

 

[fishwatcher]

Ok, I've set the trap with some defrosted brine shrimp. I hope this will work!
How long do you suggest I leave it in there (it's 3:15 pm here now)?
Thanks!!

 

[AK77]

I'd arrange the rocks so that you can see into the trap with ease. Basically you want something that the crab can descend into with ease, but wont be able to get out of. Crabs usually will smell/taste the food the instant its put into the water, so provided it doesn't feel threatened it should go in search of it quickly. I'd check every hour or so. The quicker you spot him and get it out, the less chance it has of escaping.

If the food is gone from the bottom of the bottle, and its too tall for a crab to escape, then something else nabbed it. BTW, if your peppermints are still in there, they may take the food, so keep an eye out.