1 death and 1 MIA today

I am sad to announce the death of my Blue Velvet Damsel, and the disappearance of my Yellowtail Damsel. It is a sad day for us.

OK on the serious side, I came home today to find my Blue Velvet Damsel laying dead. He was acting odd the past day or so, and its tail appeared to have been missing part of it. There was also a white "growth" where the missing tail section was located. It seemed like the tail was missing more each day. While swimming earlier today, it kept going back and forth on its side. He died sometime when I was away. It also lost all of its coloring since it died. It no longer had the yellow stripe and the blue was very very dull. It was normal when I left. Is this normal?

I am also missing my Yellowtail Damsel. I checked all the tank decorations and it is nowhere to be found. The only real place he could hide was in what is shown in the photo I have added. I have 3 of these right now and he is not in any of them. Is it possible it was eaten by my Spotfin Squirrelfish? I was overfeeding them, but have just started feeding 2 times per week.

This is a new tank still going through its cycle, and you will be able to view my water parameters in my signature.

Anhyone have thoughts on what happened?

 

This is why it is best not to add fish until the cycle is complete. Do you have a clean up crew of any kind (snails, hermits, etc.)?

 

I inquired about a CUC with Reefcleaners and was told to lower my nitrates first. I am now waiting until my cycle progresses a little further.

 

is your tank covered? Did you check the floor around and behind your tank?

 

The tank is covered, and it is not laying on the floor anywhere.

 

well that is a mystery. i don't know enough about your filter to know whether getting sucked into that is a possibility. check the sides of your powerheads to make sure the body isn't stuck there. After that, i am out of ideas.

 

The canister and power filter I use both have "guards" on the inlet tube to keep fish and big chunks of garbage from being sucked in. My only guess is the Spotfin ate it, or it has one heck of a hiding place.

 

The death sounds like Damsel vs Damsel violence to me. Not sure about the MIA.

 

Maybe she was fishnapped!