Swordtail Disappeared

**Neptunius** · 10-08-2012, 8:48 PM

Greetings all! I haven't posted in awhile, because life got busy, not because I got out of keeping an aquarium. My 30 gal is still doing nicely. Something strange happened between yesterday and today though. I've had two beautiful orange swordtails for awhile. They were there last night but when I went to feed them this morning there was only one. I figured the other must have died, but it wasn't floating anywhere and it wasn't caught in any plants or decor in the tank. It also didn't jump out of the tank. The other tank dwellers are a school of phantom tetras, four Bolivian rams, and four golden corys. Is it possible that they could have done away with a swordtail overnight? I didn't think any of these had a reputation of being aggressive fish.

**Glabe** · 10-08-2012, 11:24 PM

the tankmates don't need to be aggressive to gobble up a dead fish. the rams and cories could have consumed him, and the cories may have shuffled his hard parts into the gravel in the process. and it's hard to be sure it didn't jump out, especially if you have a dog or cat. I have found fish under the fish tank and even in another room. They're surprisingly hard to spot when they're dried up on the carpet. It could also be just be wedged under decor. have you moved stuff around to see?

**Neptunius** · 10-09-2012, 9:40 AM

Well the tank is pretty well sealed with the hood and all, there aren't many gaps for it to jump through. I did check all around on the carpeting. I have white carpet and I figured that the bright orange body would have stood out against it. Also, no dog or cat. Also, I moved decor and plants around a bit just to check, but found nothing. Therefore I think the most likely is that it died in tank and was eaten. I'm just surprised the tank mates disposed of him so quickly and thoroughly.

**tanker** · 10-09-2012, 12:33 PM

You will be surprised how fast fish dispose of dead fish. 4 rams and 4 corys==No problem.

PS-- the bones are very difficult to find.

**excuzzzeme** · 10-12-2012, 12:31 AM

They never found Jimmy Hoffa either!

**Fishfriend1** · 10-12-2012, 6:55 AM

lol, if this had been a new thread I would have said that you should check your filter if it's a HOB. I've had mollies and guppies get into those and live there for months before I found them.