Missing Fish

[omarshabaz]

Hey guys im looking for suggestions as to where my fish are disappearing to. The tank was up and running for three years without a problem and now fish are disappearing. One day they are there, the next day I wake up and they are gone without a trace. First was a fairy wrasse, maybe 2 inches, then a pair of black clowns maybe 1.5 inch, so I decided to get bigger fish and got a yellow tang and powder brown tang about 3-4 inches each and they have both disappeared.   the tank is a 125 gallon, the odd paid is there is a clarkii and a blue devil damsel that have been there since day one. not much other inhabitans, coral banded shrimp, variuos snails and crabs, porcelain crab, and a few corals. thats it. Any insight would be helpful

[ordi260]

Mmmmm i could'nt say who but i thik someone had a pricey fish n' chips...   It happenned to me when i introduced new inhabitants in my african cichlids tank...

[White Lightning]

That's pretty odd if you ask me. \have you checked sump, behind the tank, rock etc? Sounds like you have the Barmuda triangle of tanks.

[RossW]

I am betting evil crab, mantis, or jumpers or are fleeing

[Hookup]

+1 Ross,  well that or Day Light Savings time... man that always messes me up too....

[omarshabaz]

Ive checked everywhere and there are no carcasses or any trace. Would a crab or shrimp really pick on and kill a  3 or 4 inch fish.

[ordi260]

IMO it would be kind of surprising...killing a fish that big...seems pretty uncommon...im sure those guys could have had eaten them after someone else had killed it...scavenging is pretty usual...if you find them let me know...its pretty interesting...well not interesting  (i think you get the point) 

[buzzard]

I had a Teady bear crab in my reef tank for about 2 years, he only ate snail for all that time.
I started missing fish all of the sudden.
One day while looking at my new addition to the tank (small powder brown) this crab snagged the tang and dragged him into the rocks 
I got a meat fork out of my kitchen and that was the end of missing fish.
I kind of liked that crab and tried to catch it many times but hey, A hitch hiker or a $40 fish and more.
You have to look VERY WELL to find some of these things, This crab was about the diameter of a golf ball but looked Exactly like the sand.

[omarshabaz]

Hmmm, how big do porcelain crabs get. About a year ago we got a crab on a piece of rock and it looked exactally like a porcelain crab so we put it in the tank...tonight when i checked with the flash light he was touring around the tank and has to be 4inches across his body. Do porcelains get that big or could it be something else.

[new2salt]

Sounds like you may have found your problem.
Can you get a pic? And post it?

Or is the crab already gone to Davy Jones Locker?
Good luck
Hope you figure it out.

[omarshabaz]

Ive been trying to get a picture but he only pops out a bit at night. Looked like a porcelain crab in the beginning white shell with brown squares on it. claws are white...Ill keep trying.

[RossW]

Are are his claws pointed?  Are his eyes red?

[omarshabaz]

Im Pretty sure his eyes are brown but I will try and sneak a peek at hiom again tonight. Not too sure on the claws

[Vincenzo.]

If he only comes out at night = nocturnal.

And 90% of nocturnal = evil.

If that crab been in there for 2 yrs im sure it is massive from day 1.

[salvini55]

IMO i agree with everyone, any crab thats 4 inches across is going to murk anything it can hold onto

[Cbellehumeur]

You lost more fish!!! you better stop buying expensive fish to feed your crab or my sister's going to kill you, lol.  Well i guess it'll make the move easier. At least you can get rid of the crab when you take the live rock out.

[omarshabaz]

Not the Greatest, but here are some pictures I was able to get of him...

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Tyler.L]

evil, yank its @ss!

[omarshabaz]

What kind of traps can I set to catch him, if I put food in a glass or something of that sort my other shrimp or fish will just go in and take it... Wont they?

thanks

[new2salt]

Hairy or smooth - Hairy generally means BAD CRAB

Shape of claw can help - smooth spoon shaped claws are usually algae eaters/grazers. generally good crab
Jagged pinching surface and pointed claws - designed for catching and killing prey. BAD CRAB

Try looking in the dark with a red lens on the flashlight - crabs don't see 'red' very well, less chance of spooking him.
You might be able to get a better look or better picture using the red light.

Trap - for something that big? I don't think is anything "manufactured" that big.
Several DIY threads for traps - again not for your size.
Similar to shrimp and worm traps.
Take a plastic coke bottle, cut the top off about 2 inches down, invert it back into the bottle to form a funnel look. Put in some sand or rock rubble to keep it from floating around and add some bait.

Here is a link to RC - sweet looking DYI acrylic trap - looks to be just the size you need, or build to suit your needs.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1560404
Here is another from RC - same poster - http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1630201

Good luck