i think it may have been the roselines, not 100% sure though.
The Case Of The Disappearing Cardinals
Greetings! I have a 120 gallon planted tank containing 4 Clown Loaches, 5 Turquoise Rainbows, 6 Roseline Sharks, 6 Bosemani Rainbows (5 added yesterday) and until this morning a school of 16 Cardinals. When I went to bed last night all the residents of the tank appeared healthy and active. When I turned the lights on the tank this morning all but 2 of the Cardinals were gone, of the 2 that were left one was dead and stuck to the filter intake and the other was struggling to survive. My water parameters are fine. Yesterday I added 5 rainbows and the day before that I dosed the tank with Flourish Excel. Any ideas what could have happened to the Cardinals? they had been in the tank for about 2 weeks and were small, but were not being bothered by any of their tank mates. I really loved having them in the tank and was planning to increase their numbers but won't do that until I figure out what happened to the school I had. Any suggesting are appreciated!
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The Roselines are pretty big but the Cardinals have been in the tank with them for 2 weeks with no sign of aggression. I have one loach that is huge and doesn't come out of his cave very often but this morning he was out. I'm wondering if he might be the culprit?i think it may have been the roselines, not 100% sure though.
The fish with the mouth big enough to swallow them will likely be responsible. Roseline sharks have small mouths in proportion to the fish as do most rainbow fish.
Do the fish that died exhibit any signs of having been attacked? Torn fins, wounds etc?
Not that I noticed. The one that was against the filter intake was white and almost decomposed, I'm not sure about the other one. I thought that maybe they got sucked into the filter (they were pretty small), but I'm not sure.Do the fish that died exhibit any signs of having been attacked? Torn fins, wounds etc?
My brother had an issue almost like yours.
After cycling his tank, he started adding cardinals. 6, 6, 4 then 6. So a total of 22 spread out over 7 weeks after the tank was fully cycled.
He woke up one night to only find 8 left. No sign of them anywhere in the tank or on the floor (if they jumped out of the tank).
Must have died and got sucked up into the filter. That is really the only logical answer that I had for him.
After cycling his tank, he started adding cardinals. 6, 6, 4 then 6. So a total of 22 spread out over 7 weeks after the tank was fully cycled.
He woke up one night to only find 8 left. No sign of them anywhere in the tank or on the floor (if they jumped out of the tank).
Must have died and got sucked up into the filter. That is really the only logical answer that I had for him.
@Beefyfish I agree in some sorts. I have read up Clown Loaches can sometimes be extremely territorial, but in this large of a tank that would be hard to see. ya never know I guess.
have you checked the filter @maggi
have you checked the filter @maggi
Healthy fish don't get sucked into filters. Perhaps after falling ill.Not that I noticed. The one that was against the filter intake was white and almost decomposed, I'm not sure about the other one. I thought that maybe they got sucked into the filter (they were pretty small), but I'm not sure.
How densely planted is your tank? Perhaps you just can't see them. Also if the he loaches are big enough, they may have eaten the dead.
Doesn't help with the cause, but maybe to explain the disappearance.
The tank is not that heavily planted. I recently changed from gravel to sand and removed a huge pleco so I could have a planted tank, about 2 weeks ago at the same time I added the Cardinals I planted 6 background plants. I'm waiting on better lights to add more. I suppose I should check the filter.@Beefyfish I agree in some sorts. I have read up Clown Loaches can sometimes be extremely territorial, but in this large of a tank that would be hard to see. ya never know I guess.
have you checked the filter @maggi
I would guess that the Rainbows are having snack time when the lights go out.
Maybe, but all of the rainbows, with the exception of one, are really small. The big rainbow that I have had for years has been in the tank with them for 2 weeks with no sign of aggression. Maybe he decided to binge on the cardinals last night? I really love the the display that the cardinals make when they school up. I guess I'm just going to have to wait for my local fish store to have bigger stock before I get them again.I would guess that the Rainbows are having snack time when the lights go out.
Easy one... the loaches are very good at snagging small sleeping fish at night. Start feeding them pellets at night when you turn off the lights.
That's my guess as well.Easy one... the loaches are very good at snagging small sleeping fish at night. Start feeding them pellets at night when you turn off the lights.
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