so i purchased 4 more fish to add to my new fish tank for a grand total of 6 fish. 3 new fish are doing fine. but i cant seem to find the other one. i bought two clowns a blue tang and a yellow tang. the blue tang got stuck in between the live rock so i had to free him from captivity. im assuming the lost clown is stuck in my larger set up. what should i do? wait another day and see if he comes out. are should i dig him up? all the fish that i bought were from the same store and they all seem lively so i dont think it has died.
lost fish.
- Thread starter p3t3rc
- Start date
Mmmk, well first, what do you mean "Free him from captivity"?? Please explain. Secondly, it's natural for fish to flee to the nearest hiding spot available when first introduced. It's like that "new kid in school" thing, where you just want to blend in with the wall that first day. It's a stressful situation and one that can only be amplified if the fish were not acclimated properly. Were they?
Additionally, you say that you believe the other clown is in your larger set-up, so if I assume correctly, these fish were added to different tanks?
One good way to help ease the stress on these guys is to turn off the lights for a few hours (or simply leave the actinics on so it's not as harsh), and you can also try feeding them. Garlic guard is a great response inducer, so if you first want to see if they'd be receptive to food (as to avoid fouling your waters with uneaten bits), then you can add some of this to the water and they may respond and quickly come out of hiding.
Keep a lookout, but allow them some time to settle and regain their composure. Moving rock and digging around trying to find them might only stress them out more.
Additionally, you say that you believe the other clown is in your larger set-up, so if I assume correctly, these fish were added to different tanks?
One good way to help ease the stress on these guys is to turn off the lights for a few hours (or simply leave the actinics on so it's not as harsh), and you can also try feeding them. Garlic guard is a great response inducer, so if you first want to see if they'd be receptive to food (as to avoid fouling your waters with uneaten bits), then you can add some of this to the water and they may respond and quickly come out of hiding.
Keep a lookout, but allow them some time to settle and regain their composure. Moving rock and digging around trying to find them might only stress them out more.
this is what i mean in the larger set up.
the mound on the right. all fish were added to the same tank. they were properly acclimated. i followed the same advice of a handful of people. i tried feeding at it didnt come out. and ive left the lights off for a whole night. the thing im worried about is that it got stuck. cause my blue tang got wedged in between two rocks and couldnt get out. thus i said free him from captivity.
the mound on the right. all fish were added to the same tank. they were properly acclimated. i followed the same advice of a handful of people. i tried feeding at it didnt come out. and ive left the lights off for a whole night. the thing im worried about is that it got stuck. cause my blue tang got wedged in between two rocks and couldnt get out. thus i said free him from captivity.
If you only just got them, your clown is probably hiding until he adjusts. Wait a while and in a few days move the rock work around to find him. The same thing happened with a damsel in my tank. Don't worry yet.
next time, dont worry too much, and be patient. you're just stressing your fish out. it's very common for blue tangs to wedge themselves tight into crevices in the rock, and you dont need to "free" them.
thanks for the advice. yea i think im jumping the gun a bit much. but this is my first fish tank ever. so im like worried that im doing something wrong. in any case ill take the advice and im just monitor the fish. and of course keep you guys posted with pics. 
