Cichlid disappeared! Who's the most likely culprit?

broncbuster

broncbuster

AC Members
Dec 28, 2007
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In my head
Hey there...

I have a mixed community tank with malawi cichlids, a bushynose pleco, a pictus catfish, one blue redfin botia and a few clown loaches. One of my cichlids, my Copadochromis Borleyi (aka redfin haplochromis) has disappeared completely. I've checked all the hiding places several times but he's not in the tank. I've checked the floor around the tank and he hasn't jumped out. I've checked the filter and he's not been sucked into the intake. The only other logical explination is that he's been eaten. But by whom? All of my fish with the exception of the pictus which is about 4 inches long, are juveniles about 2 inches in length. The redfin botia is about 3 inches long but has a small mouth, being a loach. Who do you think did it? He's been MIA for over a week.
 
dying fish have a way of gettin stuck in crazy places youll see it turn up some where\
unlucky thats a nice fish - i have 3
 
Sorry to hear of your loss.

Maybe died and then got eaten after death? Any illnesses in tank recently or unusually high levels of ammonia etc?
 
No, no illnesses. Ammonia and nitrites are at 0. Water is clear and nitrates are good. Do pictus catfish have a reputation for eating cichlids?
 
The other africans could have disposed of his flesh. His bones are probably hidden somewhere. I wouldnt worry about it unless you have an ammonia spike from the decaying carcas.
 
Do you have pictures of your "blue redfin loach"? My guess is this is a Yasuhikotakia modesta. Aggression level is scaled 4-5 out of 5. These are very aggressive fish. A single specimen like that would possibly be more dangerous than the one kept with a group and rip through your community tank. Always keep loaches in an absolute minimum number of 3. Please do not consider mixing these loaches with other loach species and other fish unless the fish can handle them with ease. Furthermore, clown loaches will not tolerate severe harassments done by the Yasuhikotakia modesta. Another tank with other members of its species, Yasuhikotakia morleti, Yasuhikotakia eos, Yasuhikotakia lecontei and loaches of the Syncrossus genus would be your best bet.
 
We've been thinking of returning the blue redfin to the lfs. I don't have any pictures as he's very elusive and keeps to himself in one of the sunken ships during the day and then comes out at night. I've all but made up my mind to return him to the lfs.

edit: you are correct. It's a modesta
 
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