MISSING: Singapore Angel

[Citycop89]

Well, just like the title says, my Singapore Angel is MIA. I’ve had him for over a month. Acclimated well, not aggressive, hung out with all the friends in the tank. Ate well. Social. The whole nine yards.

I woke up this morning and noticed I couldn’t see him. I busted out the frozen food for the day and everyone was chomping down except the angel. No where to be seen. I fear the worst. He was easily one of the favorites in the tank. Hopefully he pops out sometime today or tomorrow.

I took a look around on the floor and under the furniture and didn’t find him anywhere. No chance of being in the overflow or sump.


Anyone have experience with this? Should I accept the worst?

 

[Gareth elliott]

Wait and see, if have an orp monitor can be useful in knowing if something large passed.(about its only use lol).

But some fish when spooked will hide quite well. You can dim the lights a bit, keep your hands out of the tank. What other fish do you keep?

 

[Citycop89]

I do t have an ORP monitor, had to google it to even see what it was. I’ll try dimming the lights. I have two clowns, two chromosomes, blue tang and yellow fox face.

 

[Citycop89]

Ha. Chromosomes. Stupid auto correct. Chromis.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Any other mysterious disappearances before this? Possible mantis or crab that has gone unseen? If have a voltmeter can also check for stray current

 

[ca1ore]

Yeah, not promising. While it's always tempting to try to find the 'cause', most of the time it just died and got/is getting reduced.

 

[4FordFamily]

Unfortunately a disappearing angel that was previously establishes is bad news. Unfortunately, your fearing the worst is warranted. I hope I am wrong. Angels are pretty susceptible to disease, do you quarantine your fish?

 

[Citycop89]

No other disappearances. All fish are social, healthy and eating like pigs. I took a look around and all of my snails, crabs and various CUC are meandering around. I don’t quarantine. I just did testing yesterday and everything tested fine. I didn’t write down the results so I can’t post them, didn’t have any issues when testing to worry about. I do have a meter and will check for the stray current.

 

[ca1ore]

Unless your water parameters are bonkers, that's not usually the cause of a lost fish. Also be careful with stray voltage - no bigger red herring in the hobby than that. Induced voltage in a reef tank is very common and rarely the result of a malfunctioning piece of equipment; you end up running around with hair-on-fire for no good reason. Plus if current were the problem, all fish would be affected. I'm with 4Ford in suspecting either some kind of underlying disease or perhaps even collection damage. That usually manifests sooner than a month, but not always. Also curious if you noted any weight loss with the fish?

 

[Citycop89]

I don’t notice any signs of trouble from the angel or other fish. All ate well and were super social with each other. The fox face and angel were buddies and swam around together most of the day. Didn’t notice any weight loss. I’m stumped. It’s a beautiful fish and would like to get another if this one dies. Just don’t know if I would be lucky to get one with the same temperament. I did add some corals recently and those are all doing well too. I took it so slow with this tank and everything has been progressing well.

 

[Citycop89]

I turned down the lights and will tell the kiddos to stay away from the tank today in an effort to calm him if hidden.

 

[ca1ore]

Sometimes fish just die for no good or apparent reason. A few years ago I had my saifin tang expire - it was propped up between two corals with no apparent damage or disease. One minute it was eating, the next, dead as a doornail. No clue why.

 

[jt17]

Have you checked your overflows. I had a 6” tang that made it into an overflow that I thought there was no way it could fit.

 

[rkpetersen]

Sometimes fish just die for no good or apparent reason. A few years ago I had my saifin tang expire - it was propped up between two corals with no apparent damage or disease. One minute it was eating, the next, dead as a doornail. No clue why.

Yup. Just the other day: Healthy tank, all fish fat, happy and eating. No recent additions. Large Banggai cardinal that's been there for a year and a half suddenly starts swimming unsteadily. Hmm. Next morning, dead. Everyone else is still fine, including the other Banggai.

 

[Citycop89]

I don’t check the overflow. It has a cover on it that didn’t appear disturbed. I’ll have the wife glance in there. I appreciate everyone’s response and insight. Thank you. This forum has always been a great help!

 

[Citycop89]

My wife just told me she found the angel laying on its side in the cave area of my rock work. He swims a little and then lays on his side, not always the same side. Of course I’m stuck at work for two more hours. What can we do?

I’m thinking put him in the sump where it’s dark with the skimmer off.