Where did my Ram go???

[dlee]

My German Blue Ram disappeared! I mean completely vanished without a trace. What the heck could have happened to him?

He was in there last night and gone this morning. I had to do my weekly water change anyway, so while changing the water today I took out all the logs, caves, etc to look for him. Nothing. I looked in both filters. Nothing.

The only place fish could possibly escape is the small area in front of both filters, otherwise the tank is completely covered. But I looked on the floor around and behind the tank just in case. nothing.

I am baffled. I didn't think I had any fish in there that would kill and eat a GBR! Honestly, the only fish even close to his size is the Dwarf Gourami, and then the Sailfin Molly, which was a little bigger than the GBR. But I can't see either one of them doing this.

A month or so ago I had one of the 3 new Otos disappear, but he was super teenie tiny and I am pretty sure he was eaten. This GBR has been in there quite a while, was full grown, a bit crabby when bothered (so I can't see him being attacked by any of the fish I have in my tank)............ I just don't understand what would have happened to him!

Any ideas????:help:

[Lady Hobbs]

Any fake decorations he could have gotten stuck in. Fake decorations are wonderful for trapping and killing fish. Hope you find him.

[dlee]

That was my first thought, that maybe he got stuck inside something. that is why I took them all out and looked. I flushed water through the logs that have holes, and even used a toothbrush up inside to see if he was stuck inside one and his "remains" would flush out. There was nothing.

I also stirred up the gravel while vacuuming in case he was buried under it somehow.....

If he died over night for some reason could he have decomposed that fast? Or could the other fish have consumed every bit of him that fast?

I am starting to realize I may never know what happened to him and that makes me even sadder :scry: He was hands down one of our favorites!

[bignellm]

It's not what you want to hear, but I doubt his remains would have been consumed that fast. There would be some part left, they didn't deem edible. Sorry to hear this Ram is missing in action. I had a Lemon Tetra do a Houdini on me a few days ago. I did find the fish a few hours ago, dried up on the floor, almost completely matching the floor's coloring.

So, I would keep checking outside the tank. Look for any object that doesn't belong. Look behind things, under things nearby. Are there any four legged pets in house? If so, it could be fish became a snack for that pet.

Hope your Ram only Houdini'd in the tank and not out. :22:

[dlee]

We have two Collies in the house. thought about that also. but I can't imagine a fish could get out through the small open areas in front of the two filters outflow area. (considering the heavy output current in front of them)

He definitely was not IN the tank though! I took every single thing out of it today looking for him. There was nothing left in there but the fish.

[dlee]

I found him deceased :scry: I am SOOOOOO sad for him!

After typing my last response I thought about a place I didn't check. On the back side of my stand, (in the center area where the shelves are) it is recessed. With the stands as close to the wall as they are you can not see into this little nook. I stuck my arm back there and did a sweep inside that area with my hand and his dried little body came out.

How on earth did he get out of that small of an opening!! I will have to come up with something to cover the area above the filter outflows. I will be working on getting this done immediately!

I hate to even think about starting over with a GBR.....not just the quarantine, but I know they can be touchy if they aren't in perfect water conditions. I always have high PH so I wondered if he would adjust and thrive. This one adjusted quite well and did beautifully in my tank. I will miss him!

[drmommacat]

So sorry to hear about your loss. I get very attached to my fish too. :(

[bignellm]

Sorry to hear about the loss. I will tell you, that the Rams I have, were bred and raised in a higher Ph water than normal. So, it is possible to assimilate a new one to your tank's chemistry. Just go about a drip assimilation before release. My rule is if their being kept at the lfs in the same city water you use, it's probably going to be a fast assimilation.

[escamosa]

What a terrible shame. :scry: I'm sorry. But you can always start again. A new Ram will adjust to your water conditions. I would say that 9 out of 10 times when you buy a fish from your lfs that they're not being kept in the perfect water perameters anyway.

[dlee]

I have been thinking about whether to start over with another Ram or not. The next question that comes to my mind is , WHY did he feel the need to escape to begin with? Do you suppose one of the other fish became "terrors of the night" to him after the lights went out? Was there something with the water that he wanted out? He seemed so very healthy and his colors were brilliant, so I have my doubts that the water quality had anything to do with it.

I did have an Ich outbreak a while back (mistake of not quarantining a new fish. Have since bought a quarantine tank!) and the Ram got the worst of it, but he recovered fine and was perfectly healthy again.

I bought him from my very small, privately owned, local pet store. I was in there last week and they had several healthy looking GBR's in stock. As a matter of fact, ALL the fish I have purchased from them have had zero issues. Very healthy tanks and stock. So I know where I could get another healthy one if I decided to try another one :ssmile:

BUT...if one of my other fish is terrorizing Rams when I am not looking I am not sure I want to try one again.......

Thanks everyone for the comments. I never thought I would get so dang attached to a fish! (blush)

[bignellm]

We all get attached. Seems that's when something seems to go wrong too. :14: