Fish disappearing?

I have had a school of 7 tiger barbs for about 2 - 21/2 years. they were all between 1 1\2 and 2 inches in size. They even bred successfully once. My question is they have all disappeared without a trace.

There must be something in my tank that took a dislike to them but I can't work out what.

I have a tank that is established over approx 10 years and nearly 100 gallons.

It is stocked with

approx 6 green barbs
2 Plecs 1 about 3 inches in length the other about 2 1\2 inches.
4 golden barbs
2 loaches (algae eaters)
6 pengins
2 cherry barbs

Also I had 3 clown loaches which were doing really well and they have also dissapeared.

Could it be something doesn't like the colours - they are similar

Any ideas as I have a tank ready which I could put the offenders in if need be before all my stock goes.

 

Hmmm...That's really wierd.....You haven't been fed a meal of fish 'n chips lately have you?? Sorry, not funny...But seriously, I can see a fish or two here and there and then get eaten by the tank mates...Not out of the question. But I'd think you'd notice a couple of clown loaches getting devoured in your tank.

 

A couple of questions.
Do you have cats in your house? Doesn't matter if the lid is tight. Cats can get smart, and might be eating the fish.
Is there a possibility of another predator being in your house? Example: Some Florida homes are left more or less open, and there are aquatic snakes that love to eat fish. A predator could learn about the nifty little restaurant you've got going on and be invading at night.
Have you checked the filter? Is the bottom of the tube broken, leaving enough space for a fish to get sucked into it.
Are there little pieces of "fish jerky" behind your aquarium? I don't think either species lost is a jumper, but some fish act out of character for their species.

 

they could be jumpung,
I lost a convict like the that, I don't know how she got out,
but she did,
check behind your stand,

 

Thanks for the comments but I'm afraid non of them are the answer - The tank has a glass sliding lid and then a hood so no chance of jumping - I have no cats and don't live in Florida so no chance of snakes. Or non that I know of in Manchester England. The filter is fine - no breakages or fish size gaps in it and no bits of fish debris hanging around the tank. Something mus be eating them but I can't find out what.

Any more suggestions would be great. I'm open to anything now.

 

Thanks for the comments but I'm afraid non of them are the answer - The tank has a glass sliding lid and then a hood so no chance of jumping - I have no cats and don't live in Florida so no chance of snakes.  Or non that I know of in Manchester England.  The filter is fine - no breakages or fish size gaps in it and no bits of fish debris hanging around the tank.  Something mus be eating them but I can't find out what.

Any more suggestions would be great.  I'm open to anything now.

As far as I know, snakes are pretty foreign to the English Isles, so you've got that right. The lid would not only prevent jumping, but it would also prevent a sneaky predator from getting in. At the very least, the lit would remain open.
You say you have "loaches (algae eaters)". There are fish that are sold in America that are called "algae eaters" that get very belligerent when they grow older. I'm not sure if they could have done it. Also, once the offending fish has done the damage, the other fish might clean up the mess, so it would be pretty hard to tell if a "murder" had happened.
Unsure of what "pengins" are, but I'm guessing if you've got such a big school of them, they're pretty small.
Are you sure you don't have a pirahna hiding in the back of your tank? Or an eel under the gravel? Or a vug under the rug? (sorry, couldn't help the Suess reference.)

 

posibly urban raccoons?

 

Are you sure you don't have a pirahna hiding in the back of your tank? Or an eel under the gravel? Or a vug under the rug? (sorry, couldn't help the Suess reference.)

 

A couple of questions.
Do you have cats in your house? Doesn't matter if the lid is tight. Cats can get smart, and might be eating the fish.
Is there a possibility of another predator being in your house? Example: Some Florida homes are left more or less open, and there are aquatic snakes that love to eat fish. A predator could learn about the nifty little restaurant you've got going on and be invading at night.
Have you checked the filter? Is the bottom of the tube broken, leaving enough space for a fish to get sucked into it.
Are there little pieces of "fish jerky" behind your aquarium? I don't think either species lost is a jumper, but some fish act out of character for their species.

I have 2 cats each are killers and 1 time I was cleaning my tank and took all my fish out ( approx 15 ) and my cats just sat and stared for ages we left them in the room and nuthing happened

 

<<Unsure of what "pengins" are, but I'm guessing if you've got such a big school of them, they're pretty small.>>

Penguins are a type of tetra. They get to be about 2" long.

 

Good morning to everyone,

Well I am in a bit of a search and rescue situation lol.

yesterday as it was feeding time for my fishes I notice that one of my Golden Gouramis was missing. I searched high and low and under every decor located in the tank and nothing. The funny part is that the day before both Golden Gouramis were accounted for and yesterday I only find one. I also searched behind the tank, under the furniture incase it jumped out and NOTHING.

What could have happened to my Golden Gourami?

I feel super bummed out as I love those fishes but its weird how he disappeared over night.

any help?

 

is your filter running right?
>.O

 

Do you have a cat? cats are sneaky things and might have gotten ur fish.

 

yeah the filter is running properly and checked it as well.

lol no cat in the house. Thank god

 

Do you have a cat? cats are sneaky things and might have gotten ur fish.

indeed... the cat got my pleco O,O
Dont worry, the law of conservation of matter states that "No matter can be created, nor Destroyed. its somewhere

 

lol yeah it has to be somewhere.

I'm just bummed out that the fish is no longer swimming in the tank with the rest.

my only guess would be that the other fishes ate him over night or something after he died.
but I have a million questions on how he disappeared when he was healthy. and he is a pretty good size as well to no find any remains or where abouts.


(FYI: all fishes get along very well in the tank)

 

if he did get out, maybe he has flapped himself under a piece of furniture. Good luck finding him(alive hopefully).
Nick

 

lol at this point I doubt that he will be alive lol.

and I checked under the aquarium furniture and no luck.
I checked all possibilities and nothing came back positive.

 

Your chinese algae eater would defenitly eat him if he died

CB

 

I don't see how he could have gotten eaten that quickly if he had died and gotten eaten. Are you sure he isn't hiding in between some plants that you might have missed or something? or could he be hiding behind the filter?

 

The filter is usually the most likely cause of vanishing fishies... Did you open up the filter and check inside? I had some disappearing fishies in my tank too, I found them in the filter... One time I had a fiddler crab that climbed out of his tank and I discovered him in my hallway walking around in the middle of the night. The second time he escaped he jumped off the balcony and and killed himself. I know that there are some fish that tend to jump out of there tanks. When I was a little kid I saw a betta fish jump out of his tank while I was in the pet store. Bettas and gouramis are related, they are both anabantids so maybe your gourami jumped out of the tank like the betta in the pet store did... I have a gourami in my tank and I have never seen him attempt anything like jumping out of his tank but he does occasionally make a splash...
Well, good luck finding your gourami!
-Camille

 

lol fishes are full of wonder.

It did cross my mind that if it died and sunk to the bottom if the chinese algae eater would eat him. But I was thinking how long would it take him to devour a fish over night.
I opened my filter container and removed my filters to checked the bottom of the container and I didn't see anything. tonight I will completely remove the filter until and remove the water so I could see the bottom much more clearer. If the fish was to be hiding I think he would of came out during feeding time as he is very active during that time.

if I can't find him I will be going to my LFS to purchase another one.

 

I kinda doubt your algae eater will eat the bones too. So there would have to be some leftovers if the fish was eaten by something inside the tank. Maybe you should extend your search area outside the tank. You would be amazed how far some fish can get once out of the water. And if you have a dog...I've seen dogs eating fish too

 

Hmmm that is a good point. Never thought if the dogs ate the fish if the fish was out in the open. I have two dogs that they occasionally hang out inside for a little bit, maybe they cross by the fish and ate it.
Well either way it will be time to buy a new one.

 

Hmmm that is a good point. Never thought if the dogs ate the fish if the fish was out in the open. I have two dogs that they occasionally hang out inside for a little bit, maybe they cross by the fish and ate it.
Well either way it will be time to buy a new one.

Consider how strong the smell of a fish (dead or alive) would be for a dog. They would have no problem finding it in no time. And if one of them ate the fish, they probably swallow it whole, so no evidence would be left behind.

 

lol talk about the perfect crime scene lol.

 

I vote it was the

 

Under the carpet prehaps? ~who knows~

 

good luck to you and buy a fish soon to replace it. and I think, if your fish had jump out of the tank and ate by your dogs, it may be your water parameter is wrong.

I had before from my LFS that fishes will jump out of the water due to the water parameter is not suitble for them, before buying the fish next time test the water parameter first. gook luck.

 

I checked the water parameters last night after taking another peak at the filter unit and the water parameters was normal, temp is normal. There is nothing unusual. In reality there isn't any room for the fish to jump out as the top of the tank is pretty sealed.

The fish must of found a space time continuum port that took him to the future or past. Just hope where ever he went there is water lol.

 

haha "back to the Future" good one over there. hope you find your fish soon.

 

HI guys, cycled tank had it about 2 month now. Fully stocked with fish. Strangely I've just noticed one of my fish has went missing. Seen him a few days a go but no where to be seen I've had my lid of rocks lifted, plants and decor out looking for him but no sign? If he is dead will he rot if I can't find him soon and will it affect my other fish is anyway???

 

What kind of fish do you have in the tank and what is the tank size? Do you have a test kit? If the fish is still toting in there then your ammonia will go up and that's not good.

 

How big is the missing fish? Did you check the filter? The floor around the tank? Any chance you could have accidently sucked him up? What other fish are with this missing fish? Any chance he could have been eaten?

 

He was around 1 inch maybe a little bigger and he was a tiger barb. I've looked around the filter but there's no way he could have been suck inside. His tank mates are 12 other tiger barbs 2 juvenile firemouths 6 serpae tetras, 2 small yoyo's and a red tail shark but there is no aggression in my tank at all for him to have been killed or eaten bizaliz3

 

I'm not familiar with most of those fish but I do know that the barbs and the shark can get very aggressive. I would still check inside the filter just to rule it out. Do you have a test kit?

 

Justkeepswimming01 there is no aggression in my tank at all just at feeding time the shark will chase barbs away from bottom but doesn't harm them. I have a test kit yes my waters are all normal
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5/10
Using API master

 

The barb could have passed away due to many things, but the reason he disappeared was most likely because the other barbs ate him after he passed.

 

He isn't in the filter either. I'm don't want to start pulling my tank apart because my fish have a well established territory and zones. There's no way he could have been vacuumed up when doing a water change either as he wouldn't fit in the tubing

It's just so frustrating lol, I just wanna know if he's dead, alive or been eaten I guess I will just have to stop looking as I can see him anywhere

 

What kind of filter are you running?