List of suspects

lcstorc · 07-08-2008, 02:26 PM

I came home last night to find my mandarin in the 125 dead and partially eaten. Now the day before he was fat and happy so he didn't starve. I am looking in my tank to see who is the most likely suspect in his death.
List of inhabitants from largest to smallest
Chavron tang
Regal tang
Sailfin tang
Maroon clown
2 Midas blennies
Red Corris wrasse
Six line wrasse
Engineer goby - long and skinny.
A small unidentified goby
Yellow and citron clown gobies.
I am guessing either one of the wrasses or one of the tangs.
The Corris was recently moved to this tank while the 6 line has been there next to forever. The mandarin was fairly new but before the Corris was moved. Nothing else is at all new.

blue_eyes53813 · 07-08-2008, 02:31 PM

hmmmm Im sorry to hear that Lynn.... Very hard to tell.. I would guess 1 of the wrasses. Or a combination of tangs and wrasses... I always thought mandarins had a covering over them that livestock wouldnt eat?.. Like a defense? Maybe once they are dead that wouldnt be the case... if thats the case I would say clean up crew picked at it...

I lost a mandarin a few years back and when it was dead in the tank the fish still wouldnt pick at it... But I dont know...

djbacon · 07-08-2008, 02:32 PM

thats a real bummer lynn, mandarins are so pretty, sorry he got ate.

lcstorc · 07-08-2008, 02:38 PM

I thought so too Vicki. I remember that pic Billy put up that had a mandarin almost in the other fish's mouth and he didn't eat it.
Cleanup crew is snails only so that is unlikely.

aquaman3680 · 07-08-2008, 02:40 PM

Sorry about the fish! I would guess the culprit was either the Maroon clown or the red coris.

Matt

JWarren · 07-08-2008, 04:22 PM

Clowns and wrasse's can be bullies and the tangs are very territorial. Your guess is as good as mine unless the body had barb marks from the tang.

I have found over the years that male mandarin's in the tank before a female is the best way to go. Females don't have the long dorsal spine for defense like the male dose and can't find off an attack as well. My yellow tang tried to show his dominance when I added the male Mandarin to the 55 and the tang found out real quick what the spine on the mandarin's back is used for. Needless to say he only messed with the Mandarin once and that was the end of that.

Sorry to hear about your Mandarin! It's hard to believe anything would mess with it since they are so docile.

rlcline76 · 07-08-2008, 04:25 PM

Sorry to hear this, Lynn.
No one acting like a butthead in the tank lately?

lcstorc · 07-08-2008, 04:49 PM

They all act like buttheads.

Not really. Everything seems about normal.
My best guess is the Corris since he lives under the sand an the mandarin spends so much time on the sand.
It's really just a guess though. All of the tangs are big enough to do damage if they wanted. I don't think it was the Regal since he has a relatively small mouth. Could be the Chevron or the Sailfin.

SeahorseBT · 07-08-2008, 04:55 PM

Sorry to hear this Mandarins are such awesome fish.They are supposed to have a slime coat that protects them from getting ick and getting picked on but I think they stop producing it when they are stressed which would make sense becuase of the recent move. The Coris is my guess because like you said they spend time in the sand and he was most likely re-establishing his territory.

vdituri · 07-08-2008, 07:52 PM

Sorry to hear that Lynn.
With a change in the tank it's hard to say.
Once the dynamics change it can turn into a free for all.
Kind of like a dominoe affect of new territories getting setup.

Witfull · 07-08-2008, 08:34 PM

i blame a mystery crab!

lcstorc · 07-08-2008, 08:39 PM

LOL
The only crabs are the few in the sump. They are only there because they are scarletts that were suposed to be peaceful but even they got banned.
I did just think of another possibility but I don't think there would have been anything left if this was the case. I do have a RBTA in the tank.

Witfull · 07-08-2008, 08:41 PM

anems and slow pod hunting perchers dont mix,,,,possibility

lcstorc · 07-08-2008, 08:42 PM

I wouldn't think anything would be left if that was the case, but it is possible I suppose. Never saw the mandarin near the nem but you never know.
I still think it was the wrasse.

Witfull · 07-08-2008, 08:45 PM

fish can be stung and lunge away. anems dont catch everything they sting. once dead/dying, its easy prey to any other critter.

07-08-2008, 02:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,437 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	List of suspects I came home last night to find my mandarin in the 125 dead and partially eaten. Now the day before he was fat and happy so he didn't starve. I am looking in my tank to see who is the most likely suspect in his death. List of inhabitants from largest to smallest Chavron tang Regal tang Sailfin tang Maroon clown 2 Midas blennies Red Corris wrasse Six line wrasse Engineer goby - long and skinny. A small unidentified goby Yellow and citron clown gobies. I am guessing either one of the wrasses or one of the tangs. The Corris was recently moved to this tank while the 6 line has been there next to forever. The mandarin was fairly new but before the Corris was moved. Nothing else is at all new. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

07-08-2008, 02:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
blue_eyes53813 Hey!Its not my fault Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lancaster, Wisconsin Posts: 8,024 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: List of suspects hmmmm Im sorry to hear that Lynn.... Very hard to tell.. I would guess 1 of the wrasses. Or a combination of tangs and wrasses... I always thought mandarins had a covering over them that livestock wouldnt eat?.. Like a defense? Maybe once they are dead that wouldnt be the case... if thats the case I would say clean up crew picked at it... I lost a mandarin a few years back and when it was dead in the tank the fish still wouldnt pick at it... But I dont know... __________________ 265 Gallon Reef built into basement wall. Lighting = 6x250 watts MH, 2x96 watt PC ,and 2x140 watt VHO for a total watt of 1,972 watts . New addition on 4-14-07 of 100 gallon sump and 100 gallon refugium. I think I have lost my mind. Gotta love this hobby Vicki Life is like a pathway of untrodden snow. Be careful how you step in it for every mark will show Definition of FRIENDSHIP: All lives touch other lives to create something new and alive My tank chronicles. http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...wall-reef.html

07-08-2008, 02:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
djbacon Neon dottyback Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: San Francisco Posts: 601 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: List of suspects thats a real bummer lynn, mandarins are so pretty, sorry he got ate. __________________ Check out my awesome 14g nanoreef in progress - http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ater-tank.html The Nano Club - It's not the size of the reef. It's what's in it that counts

07-08-2008, 02:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,437 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: List of suspects I thought so too Vicki. I remember that pic Billy put up that had a mandarin almost in the other fish's mouth and he didn't eat it. Cleanup crew is snails only so that is unlikely. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

07-08-2008, 02:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
aquaman3680 Golden Moray Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Overland Park, KS Posts: 2,215 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: List of suspects Sorry about the fish! I would guess the culprit was either the Maroon clown or the red coris. Matt __________________ Check it out! The 90 gallon Road Trip The Bio-Cube Adventure

07-08-2008, 04:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
JWarren Reef Lobster Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Port Saint Lucie, Florida Posts: 1,426 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: List of suspects Clowns and wrasse's can be bullies and the tangs are very territorial. Your guess is as good as mine unless the body had barb marks from the tang. I have found over the years that male mandarin's in the tank before a female is the best way to go. Females don't have the long dorsal spine for defense like the male dose and can't find off an attack as well. My yellow tang tried to show his dominance when I added the male Mandarin to the 55 and the tang found out real quick what the spine on the mandarin's back is used for. Needless to say he only messed with the Mandarin once and that was the end of that. Sorry to hear about your Mandarin! It's hard to believe anything would mess with it since they are so docile. __________________ John Typhoon RO/DI filter unit. My Saltwater web site. Help build ReefPedia!

07-08-2008, 04:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
rlcline76 Manta Ray Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,646 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: List of suspects Sorry to hear this, Lynn. No one acting like a butthead in the tank lately?

07-08-2008, 04:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,437 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: List of suspects They all act like buttheads. Not really. Everything seems about normal. My best guess is the Corris since he lives under the sand an the mandarin spends so much time on the sand. It's really just a guess though. All of the tangs are big enough to do damage if they wanted. I don't think it was the Regal since he has a relatively small mouth. Could be the Chevron or the Sailfin. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

07-08-2008, 04:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
SeahorseBT Golden Moray Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Libertyville, IL Posts: 2,279 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: List of suspects Sorry to hear this Mandarins are such awesome fish.They are supposed to have a slime coat that protects them from getting ick and getting picked on but I think they stop producing it when they are stressed which would make sense becuase of the recent move. The Coris is my guess because like you said they spend time in the sand and he was most likely re-establishing his territory. __________________ -Blake My 34 Gallon Seahorse and Macro Tank-http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...acro-tank.html My 46 Gallon LPS Tank-http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-lps-tank.html My 120 Gallon Reef-http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...chronicle.html

07-08-2008, 07:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
vdituri Excellent Guesser :D Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sacramento California Posts: 6,244 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: List of suspects Sorry to hear that Lynn. With a change in the tank it's hard to say. Once the dynamics change it can turn into a free for all. Kind of like a dominoe affect of new territories getting setup. __________________ Victor ----- People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

07-08-2008, 08:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,437 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: List of suspects LOL The only crabs are the few in the sump. They are only there because they are scarletts that were suposed to be peaceful but even they got banned. I did just think of another possibility but I don't think there would have been anything left if this was the case. I do have a RBTA in the tank. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

07-08-2008, 08:42 PM	#14 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,437 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: List of suspects I wouldn't think anything would be left if that was the case, but it is possible I suppose. Never saw the mandarin near the nem but you never know. I still think it was the wrasse. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

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