Homicidal Lobster?

[Kuhlifan]

It seems like I saw a nature show once that was featuring a body of water in Africa where a lot of cichlids come from. It talked about how they mainly hunted at night.

 

[Wippit Guud]

If crayfish can get a fish, it will. And they'll be dead. Your ciclids will not be an exception.

If your ciclids get ahold of your cray right after a moult, it will. And it'll be dead.

 

[Dwarf Puffers]

I'd been wondering where some of my 1.5" shelldwellers were, and why they were dissapearing. Then I saw a tail sticking out of the mouth of one of my 3.5" angelfish. Get rid of the africans, I'd say.

 

[Piranha86]

Here's my best guess. The african cichlids were able to catch the harley (which are generally a little slower than a white cloud) and they killed it. The crayfish ate the remains, and that's why there isn't any trace. Crayfish can catch fish occasionally, but I don't think they could catch 4 or 5 small, schooling fish in what I think you're describing as a short time span. I doubt the cichlids would completely eat a harley, but they would gladly chase/kill/bite them. Just my 2 cents.

 

[thebrandon]

It really could have been your Africans, or the cray, or both.

I had a cray that was as peaceful as could be. Never once tried to eat a fish. My rope fish used to rest underneath it actually and the cray wouldn't care.

I've also had crays though that I have seen snapping at fish and even catching and eating fish.

All I and most people on here can recommend is do some more, in depth research. It wont take much time before you realize what you have in your tank.

 

[RisiganL.]

I really think that the cichlids are killing the fish and the cray is eating them. I had a friend with a native tank and with darters and crayfish. One day, he added a small sunfish (species unknown). The sunfish slowly killed off most of the fish but the cray's would feast on the bodies.

 

[Drunkenbushman]

Im sure your cray loved the HR's. Mine loves to eat them along with danoios and any stupid tetras that my gf finds pretty.

 

[WeedCali]

I think Piranha86 hit it on the head with that one.