Pajama Cardinal Missing In Action!

We added a lawnmower blenny and 2 small pajama cardinals a little over a week ago. The cardinals have been eating well and hanging out in one side of the tank. They were both there this morning at feeding time, but when I came back a few hours later to do a water change, only one was there. It couldn't have gone through the drain pipe because it has a strainer on it. I can't see it in any cracks in the live rock. The other is still hanging out in the same place as usual. I looked all around the tank in case it jumped out but nothing. We also have the 2 clowns, 2 turbo snails, 2 nassarius snails, the blenny, and a bubble tip anemone. Could the anemone have eaten it? I fed the anemone a thawed shrimp this morning. I'm have no clue?

 

It sounds like something has eaten it. Could it be hiding?

I'm unsure about the nem but it sounds possible if the BTA is large and the fish is small.

Hope you can get a better answer from one of our BTA keepers.

 

It sounds like something has eaten it. Could it be hiding?

I'm unsure about the nem but it sounds possible if the BTA is large and the fish is small.

Hope you can get a better answer from ove of our BTA keepers.

Thanks, stella1979. If it's hiding, it found a REALLY good spot. I didn't move any of the rocks, but I can see into almost every crevice from the front and sides of the tank. It has a megaflow overflow built in and I can't see in it from the back because the background covers it. But I took a picture of it from the top with my phone and didn't see it in there (it is pretty small though). I wouldn't think the clown fish would've eaten it, which is why I mentioned the BTA. The BTA isn't huge (I haven't seen many for comparison) but it is bigger than the cardinals. Hopefully it's just hiding we'll and will come out soon. Thanks again.

 

Coincidence? Maybe.. Just saw a thread somewhere titled, 'My BTA ate my fish!'

Can you get on a stool or something and use a flashlight to see look very well in your overflow? I have a planted all in one and have had some smaller fish and sizable snails end up in places I thought they'd never be able to go.

 

Coincidence? Maybe.. Just saw a thread somewhere titled, 'My BTA ate my fish!'

Can you get on a stool or something and use a flashlight to see look very well in your overflow? I have a planted all in one and have had some smaller fish and sizable snails end up in places I thought they'd never be able to go.

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Stella, tomorrow, if it's still nowhere to be found in the tank, I'll grab a step ladder/flashlight and have a better look in the overflow box. Thanks!

 

Stella, tomorrow, if it's still nowhere to be found in the tank, I'll grab a step ladder/flashlight and have a better look in the overflow box. Thanks!

Well, I looked in the overflow box as good as I could and didn't see it.

 

Sorry to hear. Sounds like the nem nabbed him... I guess it's not very common, but it does happen, particularly with smaller fish who just get too close.

 

Sorry to hear. Sounds like the nem nabbed him... I guess it's not very common, but it does happen, particularly with smaller fish who just get too close.

That's all I can think of. It's funny because they never really leave that side of the tank, and the nem is closer to the other side. Well, near the middle really. Unless there's something living in the live sand that ate him, lol. I hate it for the other Pj because now it's in their by itself...

 

I had a similar case a while back. Had a banggaI cardinal that was sick or injured ... wasn't sure it would make the night. The next morning it was nowhere to be found. The only thing I can think is that it died and the Nassarius and bristle worms had a quick meal.

 

I had a similar case a while back. Had a banggaI cardinal that was sick or injured ... wasn't sure it would make the night. The next morning it was nowhere to be found. The only thing I can think is that it died and the Nassarius and bristle worms had a quick meal.

The PJ cardinal didn't seem sick or anything. I fed them that morning and he ate with the rest of the fish. Came back about 3 hours later to do a water change and it was gone. I had fed the nem a shrimp that morning also. Maybe the nem needed a bigger meal? I just don't know.

 

Weird!