Fish Dissapperance?

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synister1

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jun 30, 2006
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OK guys, I have a real quick question.

I recently added two Clown Loaches to my 55 gallon tank. I checked today on the fish and they have totally disappeared. The clowns were about 3 inches and the only suspect I have is an 8 inch African Brown Knife.

Would this fish be able to swallow the clowns whole? I thought this wasn't possible not only because of size difference, but also with the knife defense system they have.

Any thoughts?
 
I don't know much about ABK's but I've seen some real fast CK bites. I don't know how big they can open their mouths though and if they can fit 3 inch clowns.
 
Loaches are some of the best hiders in the fish world.
Make sure you do a thorough tank shakedown. They can burrow in substrate and slide under rocks. Or a tiny crack in a driftwood or filter intake.
If they are nowhere to be found, You got a nasty mean brown knife haha.
 
My guess is in the filter. This happened to me once with a Jag and he mysteriously reappeared after a month. I had emptied the tank completely besides water so I had to assume that the only place he could have stayed wet for that month was the filter. Good luck with yours, but check the filter if you get a chance.
 
Do you have only two clown loaches? It's why they are not showing up. They're sociable in nature. I wouldn't keep them in less than five in number. Eventually, they'll need a bigger tank as they grow.
 
synister1;4627302;4627302 said:
OK guys, I have a real quick question.

I recently added two Clown Loaches to my 55 gallon tank. I checked today on the fish and they have totally disappeared. The clowns were about 3 inches and the only suspect I have is an 8 inch African Brown Knife.

Would this fish be able to swallow the clowns whole? I thought this wasn't possible not only because of size difference, but also with the knife defense system they have.

Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
hi there, i have two blck ghost fish and i would agree at your suspicions, have you ever seen them really open their mouths, it's amazing , it's like that movie the mummy,
i would have thought it until i saw it with my own eyes. the only other place they could be it in your uptake or out take tubes, theyr'e like cats into everything, mine do that all the time.
 
id check and recheck every spot in the tank. i tried to move a piece of driftwood the other day and couldnt pick it out of the water b/c my yoyo loach wedged itself in a tiny knot hole i the wood.... i have 2 yoyos and never see them but for feeding time, always hiding under something. i inherited my 2 yoyos and told my wife id keep them till the end, ones around 5 the other around 10 years old..... so lots life to hide...
 
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