Don't you just hate when your new fish vanish

[cnason3]

So you go to your lfs and pick out a new fish all excited to add the new addition to your tank. You take care in the whole process quarantine them watch them to make sure all is good and we'll. Then the time comes to add them to your display tank and poof they pull a disappearing act. Days pass and no sign of them you search day and night just hoping to catch a glimpse to be sure they are OK. What's the longest you have gone without seeing your new fish ?

 

[Joey waid]

We are still missing two. Either they vanished in thin water or aliens or they jump out and the cats got them?? We did have a fire fish that lived in a hob filter for over a month. It would still be there if we did not need to borrow filter for another tank. I still do not know how it got in there.

 

[Garrett W.]

I had a coral beauty jump and didn't find the remains for a few days. Cat had herself a nice expensive snack.....

 

[cnason3]

So crazy the way that works. Takes some skill to get into a hob filter must have swam up stream. Having cats myself I always wonder what they would do if they found a jumper. I have a glass cover but there are 2 1" hole's that if Thier aim was right they might make it out.

 

[troiusmaximus]

Had a few wrasses do that on me. Very frustrating.

 

[BigHildy53]

Two Firefish hid for six weeks. They might have been at night.

 

[cnason3]

I've got a royal gramma that's been Mia for a week now and my tank is small. I sneak a look almost every night hoping I might catch him. Really sucks

 

[roberthu526]

This why I have cameras setup next to the tank. I usually look at the cameras right after I feed. Usually the sneaky ones come out to grab a bite.

 

[audikers]

We had a diamond goby, and it vanished without a trace. Even tried stirring the sand and moving the rocks in an attempt to find him. We still have no idea if he is still in there? Or if he made the great escape and got eaten by a dog.

Here is the funny part of this story. We have a theme in our tank by naming all our fish after famous criminals. We have Bonnie & Clyde, Jesse James, Baby Face Nelson, Tonto, and then when we brought our Diamond back goby home I wanted to name it D.B. Cooper. Now it has vanished, and it is the greatest mystery of our tank.... LOL LOL LOL. I found it pretty funny when I realized the connection, My husband however did not since it was his fish hahahahaa..... @Manchild

 

[ca1ore]

Depends on the fish, and whether you did a proper quarantine. If yes to the latter, and a non reclusive fish, then up to a week is possible. I had a venustus angel, quarantined for 8 weeks, put into the display, and not a sighting in over a year. OK, it's a very reclusive fish, so possible I suppose that it's back there, but not likely.

 

[Mel 2038]

That brings back some memories, however I recently had one of my long term residents disappear for 4 days. Found him in the coralline covered overflow. Happy Holidays

 

[1979fishgeek]

3 months with this Gumdrop Coral Croucher...

Took a year to get and was at the top of my wish list so was really pleased I got one, released into tank and "poof!" vanished thought it died until this week when she pops up, even laid some eggs.

 

[Deinonych]

Yes, somewhat frustrating but expected. Newcomers have to establish their own territory and their place in the pecking order. I have a new fairy wrasse that "graduated" from QT over a week ago. After a couple days in an acclimation box, followed by a couple days trying to find a bolt hole (including a trip into the overflow), he made himself scarce for a good 3-4 days, only coming out at feeding times. Today was the first day since introduction that he's been out and about all day.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

3 months with this Gumdrop Coral Croucher...

Took a year to get and was at the top of my wish list so was really pleased I got one, released into tank and "poof!" vanished thought it died until this week when she pops up, even laid some eggs.

WoW! Glad you had a happy ending!

 

[ZoaCollector]

These acclimation boxes help immensely when introducing new fish to the tank.
I like to keep them in there until they're eating aggressively and look comfortable and bold.

I'll be offering these, hopefully this coming January