Missing Dottyback - the saga continues.....

IMLauren2 · 02-22-2004, 05:57 PM

Someone help me face reality.

I am one of those people with the missing fish. I had enough so I took off the cover of the tank and took 3 of the big rocks out and lifted the other rocks in the tank.....there is absolutely no sign of that poor fish......did he just freak and hide deeper into the center of the rock or do I have to face facts and have him declared legally dead?

I am so furious. I just want to know what happened to the poor little thing...He is supposed to be so hardy and he didnt make it? Yet my tang has battled ich on his own and survived? I barely had time with him not to mention he was the most expensive in the tank.

Something just doesnt make sense.

Anyone? Please?

C ya!

Lauren

Xanareef · 02-22-2004, 06:04 PM

How big is he?

Do you have a sump, if so have you checked there? What about an overflow? In the plumbing? Have you checked the floor EVERYWHERE in the room? (you'd be surprised how far away people have found their fish, days later).

I know how attached to a fish we can get, I hope it turns out for the best, Lauren.

Alexis

IMLauren2 · 02-22-2004, 06:08 PM

I looked in the sump but didnt see anything....I couldnt look everywhere in the sump because I would have had to take things apart which is too tough to do...EVEN if he made it to the sump its a week later - he'd be dead by now.

Now the other less aggressive dotty is hiding...I guess I spooked him.

is there ANY chance my missing fish is in there and just hiding deep in the rock? Or do I have to finally face the fact that he is gone?

Im so upset.

Maxx · 02-22-2004, 06:11 PM

I've heard of them hiding deep in the rock work and survivng amazingly long amounts of time w/o being seen.Just be patient...
Nick

Gina · 02-22-2004, 06:20 PM

Ours also used to hide up in the rock. At first I used to worry all the time that it was dead somewhere but, she would usually show up later. If I don't see her all the time now...I don't worry so much! Also, she is very used to us and doesn't hide like she used to. Good luck! I hope you find yours soon.

IMLauren2 · 02-22-2004, 06:24 PM

But Gina, for the last week this dotty has hidden ALL the time...unless he comes out when Im not around.....how long do I wait?

Also I just took the tank apart and absolutely no sign of him.

Im losing hope.

Witfull · 02-22-2004, 06:28 PM

patience young padawan....patience

IMLauren2 · 02-22-2004, 06:32 PM

whats a padawan?

also I took most of the rock out except for 2 which i just lifted and shook....youre telling me that wouldnt make him come on out?

I dunno Im losing hope.

What u think Mister Wit?

Imperator · 02-22-2004, 06:35 PM

If you were small and tasty and flouresent purple,you'd be good at hiding too.

Their one of my favorites and I feel your pain but if he is hiding,rocking everyone's world isn't going to make him settle in any faster and knowing for sure isn't going to bring him back.

Also you're stressing the heck out of the fish you have.

Just relax and cross your fingers

Witfull · 02-22-2004, 06:36 PM

padawan...fropm Star Wars,,,and aprentice learner...as i said,,,,give him time,,,and shaking a rock will not make him come out, they will lock into a hole, nook or cranny...patience!

NaH2O · 02-22-2004, 07:27 PM

Give it some time - as Wit said...have a little patience - I believe that is the rule for this hobby. Check your ammonia for reassurance, if you are concerned about it being dead in the tank somewhere.

IMLauren2 · 02-22-2004, 08:34 PM

Im sure its dead.....it was a tank bred orchid....I told the man at the fish store what happened and he said they even looked funny to him...so why did they let the store sell it to people....he said after all this time it is proibably dead.

I guess I dont have any recourse? I think they should give me my money back....

Any advice?

Witfull · 02-22-2004, 08:40 PM

just state to him if he thought they didnt look right , why were they for sale, and what can he do for you. if you dont like the answer, dont make threats like ill never come here again or anything, just take your business elsewhere.

Imperator · 02-22-2004, 08:55 PM

Well he tipped his hand by saying it looked funny.

Don't ask for money back as retailers don't like to hear that.They'd rather give you something of equal value.

Play on sympathies and don't get arguementive and you'll make out fine if the guy is any kind of businessman.

IMLauren2 · 02-22-2004, 09:04 PM

problem is I bought it over a week ago - i dont have a dead fish body to show him...im not even sure I still have the receipt.....he wont help me or else everyone would BS him with a hard luck story.

Im just especially pissed because I was so emotional this week - even blaming myself - thinking maybe I didnt acclimate him properly or maybe some chemical parameter was off. Also, what a waste of money for a fish I barely enjoyed for 2 days.

Its just not right.

02-22-2004, 05:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
IMLauren2 Tubeworm Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 27 View Gallery Karma Komment	Missing Dottyback - the saga continues..... Someone help me face reality. I am one of those people with the missing fish. I had enough so I took off the cover of the tank and took 3 of the big rocks out and lifted the other rocks in the tank.....there is absolutely no sign of that poor fish......did he just freak and hide deeper into the center of the rock or do I have to face facts and have him declared legally dead? I am so furious. I just want to know what happened to the poor little thing...He is supposed to be so hardy and he didnt make it? Yet my tang has battled ich on his own and survived? I barely had time with him not to mention he was the most expensive in the tank. Something just doesnt make sense. Anyone? Please? C ya! Lauren

02-22-2004, 06:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Xanareef Fire Coral Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Toronto, Ont Posts: 64 View Gallery Karma Komment	How big is he? Do you have a sump, if so have you checked there? What about an overflow? In the plumbing? Have you checked the floor EVERYWHERE in the room? (you'd be surprised how far away people have found their fish, days later). I know how attached to a fish we can get, I hope it turns out for the best, Lauren. Alexis __________________ I do not have a signature.

02-22-2004, 06:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
Maxx Manta Ray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: St Louis Mo Posts: 3,080 View Gallery Karma Komment	I've heard of them hiding deep in the rock work and survivng amazingly long amounts of time w/o being seen.Just be patient... Nick __________________ "Chaos, confusion, despair...my work is done here." ...Some guy named Murphy.... A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn...that was fun!" Reef Sanctuary Knowledgebase (Answers to all your questions and then some!)

02-22-2004, 06:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,842 View Gallery Karma Komment	Ours also used to hide up in the rock. At first I used to worry all the time that it was dead somewhere but, she would usually show up later. If I don't see her all the time now...I don't worry so much! Also, she is very used to us and doesn't hide like she used to. Good luck! I hope you find yours soon. __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

02-22-2004, 07:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,929 View Gallery Karma Komment	Give it some time - as Wit said...have a little patience - I believe that is the rule for this hobby. Check your ammonia for reassurance, if you are concerned about it being dead in the tank somewhere. __________________ ~Nikki~

02-22-2004, 06:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
IMLauren2 Tubeworm Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 27 View Gallery Karma Komment	I looked in the sump but didnt see anything....I couldnt look everywhere in the sump because I would have had to take things apart which is too tough to do...EVEN if he made it to the sump its a week later - he'd be dead by now. Now the other less aggressive dotty is hiding...I guess I spooked him. is there ANY chance my missing fish is in there and just hiding deep in the rock? Or do I have to finally face the fact that he is gone? Im so upset.

02-22-2004, 06:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
IMLauren2 Tubeworm Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 27 View Gallery Karma Komment	But Gina, for the last week this dotty has hidden ALL the time...unless he comes out when Im not around.....how long do I wait? Also I just took the tank apart and absolutely no sign of him. Im losing hope.

02-22-2004, 06:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
IMLauren2 Tubeworm Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 27 View Gallery Karma Komment	whats a padawan? also I took most of the rock out except for 2 which i just lifted and shook....youre telling me that wouldnt make him come on out? I dunno Im losing hope. What u think Mister Wit?

02-22-2004, 06:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
Imperator Fire Coral Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Tampa FL Posts: 70 View Gallery Karma Komment	If you were small and tasty and flouresent purple,you'd be good at hiding too. Their one of my favorites and I feel your pain but if he is hiding,rocking everyone's world isn't going to make him settle in any faster and knowing for sure isn't going to bring him back. Also you're stressing the heck out of the fish you have. Just relax and cross your fingers

02-22-2004, 08:34 PM	#12 (permalink)
IMLauren2 Tubeworm Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 27 View Gallery Karma Komment	Im sure its dead.....it was a tank bred orchid....I told the man at the fish store what happened and he said they even looked funny to him...so why did they let the store sell it to people....he said after all this time it is proibably dead. I guess I dont have any recourse? I think they should give me my money back.... Any advice?

02-22-2004, 08:55 PM	#14 (permalink)
Imperator Fire Coral Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Tampa FL Posts: 70 View Gallery Karma Komment	Well he tipped his hand by saying it looked funny. Don't ask for money back as retailers don't like to hear that.They'd rather give you something of equal value. Play on sympathies and don't get arguementive and you'll make out fine if the guy is any kind of businessman.

02-22-2004, 09:04 PM	#15 (permalink)
IMLauren2 Tubeworm Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 27 View Gallery Karma Komment	problem is I bought it over a week ago - i dont have a dead fish body to show him...im not even sure I still have the receipt.....he wont help me or else everyone would BS him with a hard luck story. Im just especially pissed because I was so emotional this week - even blaming myself - thinking maybe I didnt acclimate him properly or maybe some chemical parameter was off. Also, what a waste of money for a fish I barely enjoyed for 2 days. Its just not right.

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