Have you seen my fish?

Jdale78 · Jul 25, 2019

I bought a Longhorn Cowfish a few weeks ago. It has been doing great since day one, exploring the tank, eating and just doing it's thing. Nobody in the tank harassed him/her. It became part of the team right away. I work from home and my computer is next to my tank. So I have a good eye on the tank all day long. I love staring at it and taking care of everyone in it.
So last night I went to bed. Checked on everyone before turning the lights off. This morning I woke up and I always go straight to my tank to check on everything. My Cowfish is gone. Vanished. Just gone. No body. No evidence. It's nowhere to be found. I moved the rocks , I checked the filter , sump , everywhere. It's not on the ground either. I've read two stories from other people who had the same experience. Does anyone know anything about this? I realize my clean up crew would most likely start eating anyone who died but to have nothing at all left in less than 8 hours? What could have happened?

Bryson.bobby · Jul 25, 2019

Did you check the overflow box also?

TheGreatWave · Jul 25, 2019

Needs more cowbell.

AZMSGT · Jul 25, 2019

TheGreatWave said:
Needs more cowbell.

This person is distraught over a lost fish and you post that. Cruel.

OP, sorry for the loss.. I’ve never heard of cowfish jumping out but did you look all around the outside?

Jdale78 · Jul 25, 2019

Bryson.bobby said:
Did you check the overflow box also?

Yes I have. I've checked every component of the tank. It's body couldn't fit through anything. I would think it's either in the tank or on the floor. Neither. It's so weird.

Jdale78 · Jul 25, 2019

TheGreatWave said:
Needs more cowbell.

Ironically. It's name was Cowbell.

Reefnman2 · Jul 25, 2019

Jdale78 said:
I bought a Longhorn Cowfish a few weeks ago. It has been doing great since day one, exploring the tank, eating and just doing it's thing. Nobody in the tank harassed him/her. It became part of the team right away. I work from home and my computer is next to my tank. So I have a good eye on the tank all day long. I love staring at it and taking care of everyone in it.
So last night I went to bed. Checked on everyone before turning the lights off. This morning I woke up and I always go straight to my tank to check on everything. My Cowfish is gone. Vanished. Just gone. No body. No evidence. It's nowhere to be found. I moved the rocks , I checked the filter , sump , everywhere. It's not on the ground either. I've read two stories from other people who had the same experience. Does anyone know anything about this? I realize my clean up crew would most likely start eating anyone who died but to have nothing at all left in less than 8 hours? What could have happened?

Would you have a cat or dog that may have picked it up if it jumped out of the tank?

Mical · Jul 25, 2019

What other inhabitants do you have in tank?

Reefnman2 · Jul 25, 2019

Also a fish out of water will flop around so maybe expand your search area?

Jdale78 · Jul 25, 2019

Reefnman2 said:
Also a fish out of water will flop around so maybe expand your search area?

Thanks. No other pets in the house. I've been on my hands and knees with a flashlight, still nothing.

Reefnman2 · Jul 25, 2019

Jdale78 said:
Thanks. No other pets in the house. I've been on my hands and knees with a flashlight, still nothing.

Sorry, hope maybe he's just hiding well in the tank.

Jdale78 · Jul 25, 2019

Mical said:
What other inhabitants do you have in tank?

Nothing aggressive and all small as well. Yellow Tang, Blue Tang, Clowns, Goby, Wrass, Puffer, two stars and tiny c.u.c.

TheGreatWave · Jul 25, 2019

@AZMSGT I must have missed the autopsy report. Stay positive!

Anyway I darn near cleaned out a tank a few weeks ago looking for a puffer that went missing. Only thing left in his area was a pump, heater and a bag of carbon. I checked the floor 8 times, looked under stuff. Looked in the tank at least 20 times, half the time with a flashlight nothing. Moved everything, moved everything again, untied the knot looked in the bag of carbon. This went on for 2 days before I gave up.

The next day I was walking by the tank and there was the puffer staring at me. WTseriousF? Puffers are good at camouflage apparently, either that or he jumped back in the tank from somewhere else. My mind is still blown because I was looking at an empty tank of water with nothing in it one point.

Jon Fishman · Jul 25, 2019

How big is the tank?

Jdale78 · Jul 25, 2019

TheGreatWave said:
@AZMSGT I must have missed the autopsy report. Stay positive!

Anyway I darn near cleaned out a tank a few weeks ago looking for a puffer that went missing. Only thing left in his area was a pump, heater and a bag of carbon. I checked the floor 8 times, looked under stuff. Looked in the tank at least 20 times, half the time with a flashlight nothing. Moved everything, moved everything again, untied the knot looked in the bag of carbon. This went on for 2 days before I gave up.

The next day I was walking by the tank and there was the puffer staring at me. WTseriousF? Puffers are good at camouflage apparently, either that or he jumped back in the tank from somewhere else. My mind is still blown because I was looking at an empty tank of water with nothing in it one point.

That's crazy! Hopefully that happens. I'm the type that if anything is lost, I can't stop thinking about it and looking for it. I'll go nuts because it doesn't make since.