Missing Flame Angel Maybe Dead

[Glott3133]

I have a new flame angel that I got over the weekend. He’s been hiding quite a bit, but I could always see him moving around. I got home this evening and can’t find him at all. How long can I leave him before I have to tear up my tank to find him?

 

[Reefyyy]

I don't know but I'm good at doing research so if you want i can try to find out?

I'm sorry that sucks. i don't deal with fish a lot but are the levels in the tank ok(alkalinity, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, ph, salinity, temp, etc.)?

also how big is the fish and how big in the tank?

 

[Glott3133]

Salinity 1.026
All 8
Ca 430
Nitrates and nitrates 0
Temp 78.2

72g tank
The fish was about an inch in size

 

[Iamjeff6]

Anything in the tank that coulda ate it if it was dead?

 

[Reefyyy]

Salinity 1.026
All 8
Ca 430
Nitrates and nitrates 0
Temp 78.2

72g tank
The fish was about an inch in size

as i said i don't deal much with fish but for coral and crabs which is what i have that looks pretty good. i don't usually measure in salinity rather than specific gravity because i think it is easier. i find ideal is 1.025. otherwise i don't know sorry.

 

[Glott3133]

Anything in the tank that coulda ate it if it was dead?

Maybe, as I found an eaten snail on the sand too. No real fish that are aggressive enough to eat a fish.

 

[Qasimja]

how longs the tank been setup?

 

[NatD]

A 1” fish in a 72 gallon tank probably won’t be found if it passes away. The CUC would do its job in that case.

It’s still possible you see the little guy pop out though.

Did you QT? Make sure he was healthy and eating?

 

[W1ngz]

I've lost fish for days, and then they show up. Granted... they weren't bright orange and metallic blue.
These are active fish that are normally out. If you don't see it within 3-4 days, it's dead, gone and eaten.

 

[Glott3133]

I found him. He is dead. My coral aren’t very happy with all the movement.

 

[Big G]

Aw, man. Sorry for your loss.

Dwarf angels can be difficult to acclimate. They are algae grazers and need a mature tank with plenty of food growing on the rocks to hunt and peck at. Sometimes they will literally wear themselves out pecking at barren rocks.

 

[steallife904]

its never a good thing to lose a fish but if yours is a reef tank it might have not been best in the tank. I 1 time and 1 time only tried a flame angel years ago. Loved it and was a great color pop in my reef tank for about 2-3 weeks until one day he decided all the LPS in my tank was an open buffet...… took out acan colonys, lobo, 1 favia colony, scoly. some of the corals he ate where high dollar ones as well. the first few days they started to disappear I caught him ripping an acan apart one day walking up to the tank. Had to break tank down to get him out. I will never again try an angel or a 50/50 fish. I know others though that have no issues so... ???

 

[Glott3133]

I knew that it was a possibility that he would go after my corals. But I think I'm having a much bigger problem with fish in my tank. My corals have been great in the tank:

Hydnophora (broke while looking for flame), but main piece doing well
chalice
birdsnest
candycane
hammer
torch
mushroom
2 magnipora

My fish population - bluetooth trigger, sailfin tang, mated maroon clowns, watchman goby, blue devil damsel, and a peppermint shrimp.

Any new fish I add, ends up dying within a week. Not sure what to check or look for.

 

[steallife904]

sounds like you have a bully in the tank. Im guessing the trigger or the sailfin. Clowns and damsel can be as well. Im betting someone or more than one is going after the new guys. Maybe look into an acclimation box. How big is the tank?

 

[Glott3133]

It's a 75g. And the Sailfin does pick on fish. I saw her picking on the flame (kind of butting him around). She does the same to the goby.

 

[steallife904]

probably stressing the new additions. And you probably already know but the tang, trigger and angel are to big for that size tank. If small now though and plan to upgrade later I understand

 

[Glott3133]

Yea, I realize that now. My LFS did nothing to educate me when I first started. So I may be looking to upgrade my tank in a few years if things continue to go well.