Lost a cichlid in a water change!?!?

[Ericag90]

so I just did a water change and I am missing a fish!?!? There is no possible way I vacuumed it out because the tubing is clear and I am very cautious! Also I checked where I dumped the water to triple check and NOTHING she is just gone!?!? I went thru all the gravel and hiding spots and I can’t find her anywhere!?!?!?

 

[mikey11]

congrats.....

you have a majical ghost fish, they are very rare.....the can disappear and re-appear whenever they feel like it

 

[Ericag90]

I was afraid I buried her while replacing the water but she is just GONE! Some of you are prolly thinking I am crazy lol which may be true but I can’t seem to figure it out! I know the one time the other blue cichlid I had hid for days and I couldn’t find him but this is different I removed everything 2 times looking for her and skimmed the gravel!

 

[Ericag90]

congrats.....

you have a majical ghost fish, they are very rare.....the can disappear and re-appear whenever they feel like it

lol

 

[Ericag90]

I really am dumb founded tho

 

[Colin_T]

You either buried the fish, sucked it out, or it is hiding in the tank or jumped out.
Look around the tank on the floor and check outside again. Then wait and see if the fish appears tomorrow.

 

[Ericag90]

I checked everywhere! I don’t see it jumping out....I will wait and see I suppose!

 

[IHaveADogToo]

In six months it will magically reappear

 

[Ericag90]

Ha well actually I found her! Dead and buried oops

 

[Colin_T]

where was it, under a rock or did you bury it in the aquarium substrate?

 

[Ericag90]

She must have been under the gravel....I found her floating when I did the water change I swear I went all thru the gravel but apparently not good enough

 

[DeniseTed]

so I just did a water change and I am missing a fish!?!? There is no possible way I vacuumed it out because the tubing is clear and I am very cautious! Also I checked where I dumped the water to triple check and NOTHING she is just gone!?!? I went thru all the gravel and hiding spots and I can’t find her anywhere!?!?!?

Places I've found ghost fish: A German Blue Ram regularly getting stuck swimming up clear tube from shrimp feeder. A rummy Nose Tetra swam into cholla wood and got stuck. A GBRam got its head stuck in metal moss wall mesh backing.
Fish & shrimp get crazy when frightened and do dumb things like jump out of tanks or hide in things they shouldn't and get stuck.