First fish missing or dead

[Mattg023]

Hi all,

my tank finally finished the cycle yesterday. I did a water change to lower nitrates and then went and bought a small royal gramma for the first fish. I acclimated him last night and then put him in and went to bed. He wasn’t very active in the bucket during acclimation, but he seemed ok. He was in the corner for the few minutes I watched him in the tank. I woke up this morning to find no fish, no body, nothing. I have a 75 gal with a good amount of live rock, but I can see all the nooks and crannies for the most part, and I don’t see anything. I checked the overflow. I looked outside the tank. I’m bewildered that I don’t even see a body or anything. He was very small. Maybe about an inch- inch and a quarter. Are these guys good at hiding? Hoping he comes out at some point.

 

[jordan10]

They will hide out in ur rock work so if you have a good amount of rock I am sure she hiding probably be out later today. Best of luck

 

[PicassoClown04]

These guys are pretty good at hiding, and since he’s brand new in the tank, I’d expect for him to be shoved into a cave somewhere. Try using your phone flashlight and looking in every tiny cranny in the live rock. This may seem tedious, and it is, but if you need peace of mind about your gramma then this is probably your best option. Make sure you also check your sump, over flows, floor (even very far from the tank. Check maybe a 4-5 foot radius), and detritus pile. I’m sure he’s around and just acclimating to his new environment

 

[Uncle99]

Those guys are rock dwellers
Great at hiding

 

[windemerejack]

They are notoriously shy fish at first, its probably hiding.

 

[Mattg023]

Thanks for the responses guys. Makes me feel a bit better. Hopefully I’ll find him after work

 

[Long Island Reefer]

Finished my cycle recently, thought i lost a chromi after that but ended up just in a really good hiding spot.

 

[Mattg023]

Found him! He was out a bit when I walked into the room and immediately swam back into his hole. Relieved

 

[jordan10]

Found him! He was out a bit when I walked into the room and immediately swam back into his hole. Relieved

Nice yea they get shy mine hides all time I got her when she was about inch. It my wife's favorite fish

Hard get good pic she in and out of her hole alot

 

[windemerejack]

glad to hear it

 

[Mattg023]

Should I attempt to feed him?? I haven’t seen him come back out again. Just that one time. This is the third day he is in the tank

 

[windemerejack]

You can drop some food in, dont worry zbout him missing, they can sometimes take a week or more.