Don’t you hate it when a fish just....disappears?

Cherie cook · Jul 17, 2019

My pearly jawfish did just that. Overnight. We have a screened lid so he didn’t jump. There’s nothing in the tank that would’ve eaten him. He had a nice burrow and was eating great. No weird activity or aggression. He’s just....gone.

Peace River · Jul 17, 2019

Cherie cook said:
My pearly jawfish did just that. Overnight. We have a screened lid so he didn’t jump. There’s nothing in the tank that would’ve eaten him. He had a nice burrow and was eating great. No weird activity or aggression. He’s just....gone.

Wow! I know how frustrating that can be! Have you checked your overflow and sump?

Daniel@R2R · Jul 17, 2019

That is frustrating. I thought that happened with my swalesi basslet. I hadn't seen him in months...then a couple of days ago, he popped out of the rock work fat as a hog and just stared at me before going back inside. Hope you find your little guy the same way.

Averhoeven · Jul 17, 2019

I had that happen with a mandarin years ago and suddenly he appeared one day. When I first started my current tank had a yellow wrasse disappear. Probably 6 months ago. Then discovered his corpse the other day in my electrical cabinet underneath a shelf that I never open. No idea how he got in there...

Cell · Jul 17, 2019

I put a green mandy that wasn't doing well in a 10 gallon tank that housed a BTA on a big live rock that was full of small brittle stars and other hitchhikers last week. He disappeared last night without a trace. I'm honestly stumped. There are no crabs or other CUC, just some asterina stars, bristle worms, amphipods, some small white tentacled anemone looking thing and another little nem what I believe is a majano. Can brittle stars breakdown a fish that fast?

Cherie cook · Jul 18, 2019

Peace River said:
Wow! I know how frustrating that can be! Have you checked your overflow and sump?

Just saw him in my overflow! Now how do I get him out?? I can’t even fit my hand in there!

lbiminiblue · Jul 18, 2019

A very small net

Peace River · Jul 18, 2019

Cherie cook said:
Just saw him in my overflow! Now how do I get him out?? I can’t even fit my hand in there!

First, I’m really glad you found the fish!!!

Now on to the extraction - what overflow do you have (brand, model, type)? Can you show us pictures from a couple different angles? Can you get a net into the overflow? Sometimes I will bend up the net to fit into tight spots (the net is disposable, the fish isn’t). Can you remove any part of the overflow to let the fish flow down into the sump? Cheering for you and the fish!!!

Cherie cook · Jul 18, 2019

Peace River said:
First, I’m really glad you found the fish!!!

Now on to the extraction - what overflow do you have (brand, model, type)? Can you show us pictures from a couple different angles? Can you get a net into the overflow? Sometimes I will bend up the net to fit into tight spots (the net is disposable, the fish isn’t). Can you remove any part of the overflow to let the fish flow down into the sump? Cheering for you and the fish!!!

It’s a really tight fit...I can’t get my hand down there at all. I can sort of get a net in but then there’s no room to maneuver. As far as removing part of it I think I’ll wait for my spouse to get home....I am no plumber, lol! Here’s a couple pics.

Peace River · Jul 18, 2019

Cherie cook said:
It’s a really tight fit...I can’t get my hand down there at all. I can sort of get a net in but then there’s no room to maneuver. As far as removing part of it I think I’ll wait for my spouse to get home....I am no plumber, lol! Here’s a couple pics.

Ok. Take it slow and easy - if the fish has been in there this long with no issues then you have some time flexibility. Let us know how it goes!