I'm missing one juvenile peacock bass and the only tankmate that had a fat belly this morning was my hybrid! I would not believe he could have eatin the peacock. But Im almost 100% sure it was my cat. These guys have quite the appetite don't they..
Sorry about your loss, albeit the risk could have been predicted.
It's not unlike learning to ride a bicycle. One falls quite a few times and learns with each fall to ride better. The dilemma is the falls are getting perhaps rarer but harder because the rider gains confidence, speed, and, looking for more thrill, takes bigger risks Speaking from personal experience.
Last year I had my 18" rtc x tsn hybrid eat a 10"-11" flag tail.. And yes, digested so fast but could still tell as there was a sharp poke coming out of its stomach still. Damn beast.. Had to give it away because he was eating more than all of my other fish combined almost.
I rescued a 14" pangasius a couple years ago. Stuck him in my community tank for a day or two while I set up the big rescue tank... that didn't end well..