Sometimes this hobby is heartbreaking . . .

[Mini Coop]

Is your tiny tiny mandarin still alive?

Hi @Victoria M!! I don't think so :*( . I haven't seen him since I put him in the tank. And pretty sure the trigger ate one of my weak anthias who hid a lot, and the goby. So I would say if he did make it, it is possible he was a victim as well.

 

[Zos4me]

i had a niger i really like too.Came down one morning and was on the carpet i was devastated too . it sucks

 

[Dash]

Sorry for your loss. You should get another goby for the shrimp though. I have a YWG /fine-stripe shrimp pair who are so attached & I would be sad to see either one alone. A shrimp seems especially vulnerable. When his goby was in a hospital tank for 4 months, my shrimp Blondie never came out of his burrow.

 

[MnFish1]

I have been brought to tears many times in this hobby.
Last week, one of my female anthias disappeared. I couldn't find her anywhere. They have only been in the main tank for about 3 weeks. No clue where she could have gone.

Yesterday morning was one of the worst moments. I was getting my boys backpacks out of the "fish room" and in the darkness saw something big and white go across the glass . . . I turned on the light in the room to see my Niger Trigger (Malificent) eating my wheelers shrimp goby (Tigger)!! I went and started hitting the glass yelling (as if she can understand me) to let it go! Needless to say she didn't listen, and my 5 year old witnessed it all happen. We both cried . . . A LOT! I felt silly telling a friend what had happened, but she said for normal people, this would be the equivalent of "I woke up and my dog ate my cat". Yep. Pretty much!! Tigger was one of our favorite fish. We loved watching him pop in and out of his hole and his little shrimp (which - what will happen to him?). And Malificent was the show fish of the tank. so beautiful and a gorgeous deep blue. I knew a niger was 50/50 at being reef safe, but she is still a baby, so I never imagined this.

Needless to say - we caught her tonight and she is in prison until I find a buyer for her. Just a sad day for us. These fish are our pets, and we are completely attached. And we spend so much time and energy in making SO SURE that they are all healthy and safe and have a good life in our home.

That being said . . . since we have a chance to add more fish . . . probably in a couple months, are there different goby's you would suggest? What about a "show fish" or another larger fish that might be a good addition? Noah is excited to help mommy pick out new fish for the tank again (we thought our stock was full - not so much). Not in a rush.

Current List:
FoxFace
Sailfin
Powder Blue
Naso
Flamehawk
2 Clowns
Pintail Fairy Wrasse
Blue Star leopard wrasse (debating on adding 2 more so if she changes to male I will still have 2 female)
Diamond Goby
Bella Goby
Scooter Blenny (or dragonette)
Cardinal
McCosker Flasher Wrasse
Male Spotfin Anthia
2 Female Anthia

Have always wanted a pair of mandarins, but not sure I have the pod population to support them yet.

One way to look at it (expense aside) - is that all of the frozen fish food you feed ( and flake) is taken from fish /etc that were killed. Its the way nature works. Sorry your child had to see it - but it's reality. When a mountain lion kills a deer in the forest - its not pleasant to look at - but its reality. When a crab eats a snail - it's reality. Why is everyone so afraid of nature. Its the way it works. (no offense to you or your child) - im sure it was a trauma....

 

[Mini Coop]

Sorry for your loss. You should get another goby for the shrimp though. I have a YWG /fine-stripe shrimp pair who are so attached & I would be sad to see either one alone. A shrimp seems especially vulnerable. When his goby was in a hospital tank for 4 months, my shrimp Blondie never came out of his burrow.

So you think the shrimp will be ok until I get a new goby and put through QT?

 

[Dash]

You never know, but in my case the shrimp was alone for about 4 months while his goby friend was in hospital. During that time he sealed up the burrow entrance & never came out. After I put the goby back in they were together again the next morning.
Good luck whatever you decide.