Disappearing Africans

[number17Fan]

I have a pretty typical 55 gal African setup with a group of 12 small Mbuna in it (all 1.5 to 2in long). I bought a 3 new fish yesterday, 2 rustys and a psuedotropheus chelosi (sp?). I placed all 3 in the tank and saw the psuedotropheus for a little while early yesterday, then not at all at night.

I woke up this morning and went looking for him because the 2 rustys were out and about doing fine.

I went crazy and pulled every rock out of the tank, completely exposing every surface in the tank and he is gone. Completely gone. No parts left, nothing.

I had a rusty and a red zebra disappear the same way this summer about 2 weeks apart and at the time I figured they must have just gotten eaten because they were pretty small. The psuedotropheus was a good 2 plus inches long.

Has this ever happened to anyone. Can a group of 12 Africans completely eat a tank mate? Shouldn't there be something left behind?

 

[Red Devil]

One of mine dissapeared like that but i finally found him a month later wedged under the cabinet.. he must have jumped but how he managed to jump is beyond me.. the tiny little spot where the filter hose is the only opening.. that sure is mysterious.. they're would be something left if it were eaten..i would think.. but from what i read on here there are some very aggressive africans..

 

[fish head )'>]

I have found fish chips behind the tank before, too. They can jump out of the smallest holes.
or just maybe, the fish thought the new inmates were food. It happens.

 

[mssassysan2000]

Yeah look around the tank for him.