Mystery Disappearance of new fish

[ageofaquaria]

I have a one year old 72 gallon tank with a handful of polyps, soft corals, LPS and 10 fish including blue tangs, cardinals, clowns, angel fish and a hawk fish. Also have a good balance of crabs and snails. Here's the deal. I bought a beautiful 2.5 inch orange backed fairy wrasse a few days back. She
acclimated well but the existing population was not particularly welcoming for the first 3 or so days. The wrasse did a good job of staying out of the way but came out regularly for feeding. She ate well and seemed very healthy.
As her welcome improved she began spending more time in the open without incident. I saw her in her normal safe place last night. This morning there is not a shred of evidence of her existence. She can't have jumped out given a tight cover and careful inspection. I have lost one or two other fish in my first year, but there is always some sign of their demise. I am baffled by this one. Any ideas?

 

[Salty1962]

Something probably spooked it and it's buried in the sand. It will come back out when it's hungry

 

[TangingOut]

Fairy wrasses can be very good at hiding. I doubt it's in the sand though, they don't bury as far as I know.

 

[ageofaquaria]

Something probably spooked it and it's buried in the sand. It will come back out when it's hungry

Now that is most encouraging! I will keep hoping.

 

[ageofaquaria]

Fairy wrasses can be very good at hiding. I doubt it's in the sand though, they don't bury as far as I know.

Also most encouraging. While I have searched a cracks and crevices with a flashlight at night, there are places I cannot see. This is the best most promising explanation.

 

[Salty1962]

Something probably spooked it and it's buried in the sand. It will come back out when it's hungry

Ooops;Dead Was answer 2 questions at one time.... Yes, in your LR, NOT sand......

 

[ciscomania]

I've had 2 fishes so far disappear without a trace and explanation. One of them was a bluespot jawfish and other was diamond goby. No signs anywhere and no fish jerky to be found anywhere. It still baffles me till this day.

 

[ncaldwell]

When I lost fish they were getting out at the back of the tank and flopping under the stand. Never found them till I upgraded tanks

 

[AlexG]

There could be a few reasons why this fish disappeared.

• The fish is simply hiding somewhere where they cannot be seen
• The fish died and was eaten by the cleanup crew after it died
  
• The fish jumped and is dried up on the floor in a place that is not easy to locate, IE: top of the tank or canopy if you have one.
  
• Buried in the sand is not likely for a fairy wrasse unless the fish was not properly identified
• Trapped in the overflow or sump tanks

 

[reef life]

I found one fish that I couldn't find for weeks in the overflow. I have covers for the overflows to prevent fish from jumping in.

 

[ageofaquaria]

I've had 2 fishes so far disappear without a trace and explanation. One of them was a bluespot jawfish and other was diamond goby. No signs anywhere and no fish jerky to be found anywhere. It still baffles me till this day.

Hmmm. Interesting. I do suspect that we have a very large and lurking spaghetti worm somewhere in the live rock. However, I don't think this would be any danger to fish but it may account for a quick overnight cleanup job.