Name That Killer!

[BlondeBrutality]

I have 2 ocellaris clowns, 1 lawnmower blenny, 1 yellow tang and a cleaner shrimp. The tang was the last to be added, and since him, there's been nothing but trouble, ich breakouts on him and the clowns and the death of my eiblli angel that got eaten. Yesterday I bought 5 blue green chromis and woke up to only 3 of them left. One had half his body eaten and the other is still m.i.a. I know its either the lawnmower blenny or the yellow tang, but I've never seen the tang bully any of our fish! Has anyone ever seen a yellow tang mess with other fish? I need to find out so we can get rid of whoever is killing my other fish!

 

[Danno]

Get a red flashlight and look at your tank for a long time when the lights are out.

Mantis Shrimp?

 

[wflash3]

honestly i dont think its any of those fish, it could be something u didint know was there, like the mantis shrimp.

flash

 

[Lynden]

My yellow tang appeared to be a 'carrier' of disease - as soon as he died the tank stopped getting ich.

As for which fish ate the chromis, none are likely candidates. Lawn mower blennies are usually peaceful fish and furthermore, they are herbivores; ever seen a deer chase down a rabbit, then kill it and eat it? Me neither. Same logic applies here.

Your chromis probably died of simple stress (if the missing one is actually dead) and then were picked apart by the shrimp and bristleworms in the tank. You don't really have cause to worry unless the fish keep dying.

-Lynden

 

[BlondeBrutality]

I never even considered a mantis shrimp, thanks guys! Ill see if I can find one tonight. Hopefully I don't wake up to any more dead fish =/

 

[SkiFletch]

How long has the tang been in the tank? Any sign of disease on the Chromis before the death?

 

[BlondeBrutality]

How long has the tang been in the tank? Any sign of disease on the Chromis before the death?

The tang has been in the tank almost a month. The chromis looked and acted perfectly healthy when we added them, although we only got to monitor them for about 2 hrs before we went to bed.

 

[Lynden]

Just so you know, a hitch hiker mantis 'shrimp' is not very likely at all. I wold look for other possible causes first instead of blaming something that probably doesn't exist while your fish continue to die. It's the hard truth; most people (including me at a few points) have made a similar mistake.

Have you already tested your water? Remember that fish can adapt over time to deteriorating conditions, which may not be your fault; but a newly introduced fish can suffer or even die in the same water that your other fish are thriving in.

-Lynden

 

[BlondeBrutality]

All of our readings are excellent. We never even found the other fish, I'm guessing it got completely eaten. I'm running out of options and I'm to the point where I'm afraid to add new fish.

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, its amazing when a fish or even most inverts die, how fast its consumed by various organisms in your tank. Makes it seem like fish "dissappear" when they actually get consumed by scavengers, other fish, bristleworms, etc.

 

[Die_Grinder]

IMO i would say its the tang. They ideally should be the last thing added to the tank, even if thay are they can be a bully to smaller fish.

also how many chromis did you put in the tank? as they need to be with company or they have a tendency to just pine and die.

DG

 

[BlondeBrutality]

IMO i would say its the tang. They ideally should be the last thing added to the tank, even if thay are they can be a bully to smaller fish.

also how many chromis did you put in the tank? as they need to be with company or they have a tendency to just pine and die.

DG

We added 5 chromis, 2 died and one is on his death bed, he looks terrible. All our stats are perfect and we did a water change saturday. The other chromis are eating him alive. I don't know what to do! His color is dull and it looks like he's almost bleeding. This hasn't been a good month.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Id let us know about your tank in more detail. There isn't a pr edator among your current stock, and no one here can tell you, you have a mantis, considering we cant here/see your tank! Let us know about the size, filtration, water stats (including the brand and age of your kits), temp, turnover, skimming, coral, lighting. Everything you can remember or find out, post it, or we cant help you any further.

If it hasn't been a good month, stop adding anymore fish until you know whats causing these deaths. I could understand if these were very timid, shy fish which need expert care, but Chromies wont normally keel over unless theres something woefully wrong.