What happened to Marvin?

[paulinajgu]

I have a planted 120L community tank:

1 bolivian ram
1 dwarf gourami
10 rummynose tetras
2 clear catfish
2 rainbows
2 golden ram
2 german blue
and i had 2 baloon blue rams but this morning I cant find the male one - Marvin!

Before you say my tank is too small, it is ok for all of them now as they are all little, one they start growing I will start moving them to my other tank which is much bigger.

He was fine last night, today he is nowhere to be found! There is no aggression in the tank and he has big personality.

i checked EVERYWHERE, spent time movign every leaf etc, even inside filter! i cannot find him
Has he been eaten? Out of the blue, overnight, no evidence? I really cant image that as since bolivian joined the tank , even tho he is extremely chilled, all fish live peacefully and there is no aggression, he is patrolling them well

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

He might have jumped out, have you checked around the outside of the tank, or could he have gone down between the tank and a wall?

I'm far from an expert on rams, but I wonder if you'll have problems when they all reach breeding age and become more territorial... and it is quite a lot of stock for a 30 gallon. I'm sure someone more experienced can give much better advice!

 

[PhantomCarp]

I have a planted 120L community tank:

1 bolivian ram
1 dwarf gourami
10 rummynose tetras
2 clear catfish
2 rainbows
2 golden ram
2 german blue
and i had 2 baloon blue rams but this morning I cant find the male one - Marvin!

Before you say my tank is too small, it is ok for all of them now as they are all little, one they start growing I will start moving them to my other tank which is much bigger.

He was fine last night, today he is nowhere to be found! There is no aggression in the tank and he has big personality.

i checked EVERYWHERE, spent time movign every leaf etc, even inside filter! i cannot find him
Has he been eaten? Out of the blue, overnight, no evidence? I really cant image that as since bolivian joined the tank , even tho he is extremely chilled, all fish live peacefully and there is no aggression, he is patrolling them well

Nothing in their could have eaten him, I doubt he jumped because rams are bottom dwellers. Sometimes fish just disappear idk why. I recommend rehoming the clear catfish because I assume they are glass cats(get 6inch and need groups of 10 or more) I also recommend getting rid of the rainbows because they need groups of 6 or more. And you have to many rams I think. You would be good with the rummies, gourami, and 1 or 2 pairs of rams 3 is pushing it(I think)

 

[utahfish]

German Rams like the blue ones you have need warmer water than the rest of your fish. They need 82 degrees and up and will struggle and live shorter lives in cooler temps. Bolivian Rams do fine in tropical temps of 76-80 and higher temps in the 80s will shorten their lives and the lives of your other fish as well.
As for your missing fish who knows? Good luck

 

[paulinajgu]

Happy to rehome cats and rainbows. What else can I add instead?
Believe it or not, rams look happy and all seem to exist together.

 

[paulinajgu]

Happy to rehome cats and rainbows. Cats are quite active. Used to hide but now up and about the tank. What else can I add instead?
Believe it or not, rams look happy and all seem to exist together.

Nothing in their could have eaten him, I doubt he jumped because rams are bottom dwellers. Sometimes fish just disappear idk why. I recommend rehoming the clear catfish because I assume they are glass cats(get 6inch and need groups of 10 or more) I also recommend getting rid of the rainbows because they need groups of 6 or more. And you have to many rams I think. You would be good with the rummies, gourami, and 1 or 2 pairs of rams 3 is pushing it(I think)

 

[paulinajgu]

He might have jumped out, have you checked around the outside of the tank, or could he have gone down between the tank and a wall?

I'm far from an expert on rams, but I wonder if you'll have problems when they all reach breeding age and become more territorial... and it is quite a lot of stock for a 30 gallon. I'm sure someone more experienced can give much better advice!

Thank you. Tank Is cover so he couldn't have jumped out I just checked again and no sign of him.

I will move them to a bigger tank once they start being more territorial. I really enjoy them and the moment they show signs of needing more space I ll do my best to provide it or find alternative home.

 

[paulinajgu]

Nothing in their could have eaten him, I doubt he jumped because rams are bottom dwellers. Sometimes fish just disappear idk why. I recommend rehoming the clear catfish because I assume they are glass cats(get 6inch and need groups of 10 or more) I also recommend getting rid of the rainbows because they need groups of 6 or more. And you have to many rams I think. You would be good with the rummies, gourami, and 1 or 2 pairs of rams 3 is pushing it(I think)

Happy to rehome cats and rainbows. Cats are quite active. Used to hide but now up and about the tank even tho just two of them. What else can I add instead?
Believe it or not, rams look happy and all seem to exist together. Started with issues but now settled.

Nothing in their could have eaten him, I doubt he jumped because rams are bottom

 

[Essjay]

You give your location as London, which usually has hard water. Most of the fish you have are soft water fish.

Can you tell us please - do you have hard tap water (look on your water company's website) and if you do, do you use RO water or similar to lower the hardness?
If you use all hard tap water, that plus the temperature could have affected Marvin.

 

[paulinajgu]

German Rams like the blue ones you have need warmer water than the rest of your fish. They need 82 degrees and up and will struggle and live shorter lives in cooler temps. Bolivian Rams do fine in tropical temps of 76-80 and higher temps in the 80s will shorten their lives and the lives of your other fish as well.
As for your missing fish who knows? Good luck

I am at 27.5 c which seem to be within the range for all the fish in the tank.
Bolivian ram is very chilled... so different than other rams which are active.

 

[Naughts]

Sometimes a fish can get into the filter...not sure what filter type you have but it is worth checking.

 

[paulinajgu]

You give your location as London, which usually has hard water. Most of the fish you have are soft water fish.

Can you tell us please - do you have hard tap water (look on your water company's website) and if you do, do you use RO water or similar to lower the hardness?
If you use all hard tap water, that plus the temperature could have affected Marvin.

Yes, I started with tap water with water conditioner but each change I started mixing with RO. At the moment pH is 6.5, KH 7 and dGH 10. I have two T5, the one at the back is covered the front one is on so the light is subdued in general.

 

[paulinajgu]

Sometimes a fish can get into the filter...not sure what filter type you have but it is worth checking.

Bioflow M. Not there, like Houdini he magically vanished I like them all but he was my favourite fish.

 

[PhantomCarp]

Happy to rehome cats and rainbows. Cats are quite active. Used to hide but now up and about the tank even tho just two of them. What else can I add instead?
Believe it or not, rams look happy and all seem to exist together. Started with issues but now settled.

Wouldn’t add anything in till you get a bigger tank

 

[Retired Viking]

Yes, I started with tap water with water conditioner but each change I started mixing with RO. At the moment pH is 6.5, KH 7 and dGH 10. I have two T5, the one at the back is covered the front one is on so the light is subdued in general.

Sorry about your fish, I am doing the same thing with my soft water tetra tank. It started at 134ppm, now at 60ppm on my TDS-3 hardness pen meter. I buy my RO in 5 gallon water jugs. They are a pain to carry. Over the years I have had several fish disappear with no trace, usually small fish. Fish and snails make quick work of dead fish.