Missing orchid dottyback in 14 gal bio cube

[GalaxyBenny]

Hey team -

Curious for your thoughts. We seem to have lost our ~1.5” long orchid dottyback in our 14 gallon bio cube QT tank. The tank is totally empty except for a pvc elbow and the heater in the front. The middle back chamber is full of bioballs with the slotted plastic cap and a sponge on top of that.

She was there around 10am this morning, but gone at 5pm. The lid is on the bio cube so the only openings to the outside are the ~1/2” squares where the cords go through. I did look all over around the floor and I don’t see a dead fishy (no other pets in the house that would have enjoyed a purple snack).

Any thoughts? I guess I was hoping someone has experience with that tank and some weird hiding place that I’m missing.

I guess worst case I’ll wait around and see if we get a big ammonia spike? Blech.

Cheers!
David

 

[blaxsun]

Check the back chamber.

 

[GalaxyBenny]

Yea I’ve looked several times, even removed the pump. No dice so far :/

 

[GalaxyBenny]

Update: As you all know...patience is the key in this hobby. She went missing sometime between 10am and 5pm Monday (after having the fish for 2 days). I looked and looked to no avail, eventually just giving up and figuring I'd do another search yesterday (perhaps even draining some water and/or moving the tank to confirm she didn't end up on the floor). Well, around 1pm yesterday my wife sent me a text "The dottyback is back." So Lord only knows where she went, but she was a pretty darn good hider it seems.

So....I guess the lesson again is..patience. Apparently a fish missing for a few hours isn't a big deal. But again, in my defense, in a QT tank with only a piece of PVC and a heater...I really didn't think I could lose one.