Anemone eating my fish?

midlife-reefer · Nov 27, 2019

So, a month ago I had 2 baby clowns and after a week, I was down to one. I have a BTA in the tank and after scouring everywhere around the tank, I assumed the BTA may have eaten the clown. But, all the other fish have been fine. A week ago, I got a Mimic Yellow Tang, 1+ inch, and fed it this morning. This evening, I can’t find it anywhere and the BTA was closed up. Just got home from dinner and the BTA has opened back up. Is this possible that my BTA is making a meal of my fish? Can’t find the bodies anywhere. Nothing in the back of the tank, on the floor, anywhere! Here’s a picture of the Tang and the BTA when I just got home. Kind of a big Tang for the BTA to eat, right? I’m perplexed.

ca1ore · Nov 28, 2019

Possible, yes; likely, no. More likely fish died in behind the rocks and got reduced.

midlife-reefer · Nov 28, 2019

ca1ore said:
Possible, yes; likely, no. More likely fish died in behind the rocks and got reduced.

I thought the same thing about the baby clown. But, there’s a ton of room behind the rocks and there are no remains of the Tang. It got reduced that quickly by the other fish and fire shrimp? The Tang was bigger than the baby clown.

midlife-reefer · Nov 28, 2019

And, what the heck killed the Tang if it died behind the rocks? It ate this morning and all parameters are good. No indications of any issues. So lost about all this.

ca1ore · Nov 28, 2019

If the anemone did indeed eat the tang, it’ll excrete the bones/skin .... then you’ll know for sure. The only anemone I ever had that ate healthy fish was a haddons carpet. None of my bubbles or mags ever have, though they will opportunistically eat a dying fish that blunders in.

midlife-reefer · Nov 28, 2019

ca1ore said:
If the anemone did indeed eat the tang, it’ll excrete the bones/skin .... then you’ll know for sure. The only anemone I ever had that ate healthy fish was a haddons carpet. None of my bubbles or mags ever have, though they will opportunistically eat a dying fish that blunders in.

I was looking for bones/skin from the baby clown and never saw any. The other possibility is maybe the fish jumped out and my dog ate it off the floor so all evidence disappeared. But, my dog doesn’t go into my den unless I’m there. But, I’m also out of logical explanations.

Tamberav · Nov 28, 2019

Can't imagine a BTA eating a healthy tang but maybe a sick one.

I almost never find bones of dead fish. The bristle worms do quick work.

Bossman · Nov 28, 2019

Do you have a lid on your tank?

I've lost several fish that have jumped out of the small feed door opening in the lid when I forgot to put it back. Also had fish jump when cleaning but I was able to scoop them back up and in the tank.

midlife-reefer · Nov 28, 2019

I don’t have a lid, but if they jumped, I haven’t found them on the floor. Always the possibility my dog ate them if they ended up on the floor.

Bossman · Nov 28, 2019

I have a dog and 2 cats. The dog has brought me jumped fish and dropped them at my feet. Pretty well trained dog.

I have 4 tanks. Everyone has a lid but I've still lost a few while cleaning the tanks. Just didn't notice they jumped until it was too late. And one lid had a few small holes from a HOB refugium. I lost a couple of fish out of those holes before I patched them up.

Fish jump all of the time.

45ZoaGarden · Nov 28, 2019

Can the anemone eat fish? Yes. I’ve seen my anemone eat a whole freakin 4 inch cleaner shrimp. Did your anemone eat your fish? Probably not. Check your overflow box and sump. That’s probably where your fish went.