i'm now upset - missing fish

LMOUTHBASS

My hypocrisy goes only so far
Jun 17, 2003
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Boston , MA
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Mark
i bought 3 awesome little golden zebras to go with my other two - they were happy always swimming on the top n stuff for a few days - then it was lights out one night and my tank is very dark at night - the next morning they were no where to be found - so i did all the routine checking around the tank but i have glass tops so i coulnt see how they woul jump out - i even checked in my filter (a week or so before one of my original zebras somehow got in there - i was away for the weeken and when i came home he was missing but i found him in there a little weak but still alive and now thriving) but they were not in my filter - i'm thinking my pictus cats made a meal outta them - i don't see how though because they never leave this one corner in my tank and they never even acknowledge that there is space to swim toward the top of the tank which is where my zebras always were! uggghhh i need to get rid of hese things they are eating everything! 3 ottos dissappeared on me a few weeks ago ! my kuhli loach is missing too - he's small but i'm not sure if he's food or not - i know they are notorious for hiding though - whats the vote - who thinks the cats have eaten my zebras? they were bigger than neons though so it just doesnt make sense the pictus are almost 4 nches now
thanks
 
never had pictus cats but from the little research I did not too long ago, I vote on them as being the predator. Kyle
 
Pictus can eat anything that's about 1/2 their own size. Their are primarily nocturnal, so you won't see them out much during the day, but if you check the tank after the lights have been out and the room dark for about 1 hour, they will likely be cruising around. They most often get fish that are resting near the bottom--if the neons rest in plants or other cover, they will be safe than the danios, but all fish small enough to be eaten are at risk. Sorry--pictus are lovely fish, but highly predatory.
 
yeah i was scocked when i observed one of them swallow hikari sinking wafers WHOLE! i coulnt believe they coul gulp those down like that - i still can't see how they caught the zebras because they were always on the top - although the lights on my tank were out and it was very dark in there the night before -
 
come to think of it - it was very dark the night beofre i lost my ottos -
i gotta trade those things
 
I'd say it is your Pictus. I have kept these fish and they are very predatory. They are fast roving hunters when the lights go out. I generally never keep thin bodied fish or fish less than 3" with a pictus.They are great in an Oscar tank but never in a tetra tank.
 
loudmouth, I've watched my danio's at night (I keep miracle beam LED lights at night) and they stay prettymuch still so I can see how the pictus would have no problem catching them. Not much moves around in my tank at night except the cories and pleco's. KYle
 
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