poly dies...true festae the perp?

[thewaterboy]

I came home today to find my 12-13 inch poly endli dead and I don't know why.

He was in a 75G tank with 1 5-6 inch male true festae and one red tail leopard pleco. Last night I did a 60-70% water change, the pH was around 6.4 and the temp is 79. Usually I am very careful with temperature when I add new water. I also added 10 tablespoon of aquarium salt and 100 drops of pH down from aquarium pharm....boston water is basic.
The 3 fish had been living together mostly peacefully for 5 months. The red terror had not shown any aggression to the poly and some minor fin nipping on the pleco. This morning around 9 AM the poly was alive and swimming around the tank. I can home today at 6, he was dead with his head wedged between 2 pieces of wood and his tail pointing to the surface. He body was intact, no bruising or chunks missing, no fin nipping....nothing from what i could see.
So is it possible that a red terror can kill a fish almost 3 times his size in mass or do you think that something went wrong with the water change?
also, any good recommendations for another tankmate...any species works for me. thanks.

 

[alexmuw]

I don't see how a 5-6 inch festae could kill a 12 inch bichir; without leaving a mark. (plus I think the bichir could easily defend and kill the featae at its current 5-6 inch size).

Possibly its head was mushed between the wood. Dissect it and see if you see anything unusual

 

[thewaterboy]

okay thanks, im waiting for my camera to charge....ill have pics by the end of the night

 

[Illbuyourcatfish]

Wasn't the red terror, guaranteed.

 

[fishluvr12]

Most likely wasn't the Festae.Males at that size are not usually very agressive.And considering there was no marks, then the death wasn't due to agression.

 

[fishluvr12]

You could probably keep a similar sized Jack Dempsey with him.Of course the Festae will need a bigger home in a yr or 2.

 

[Cecropia]

I'm pretty sure the Terror didn't do it. Even one of my 9" senegals will fight my 8" jag when he gets too boisterous (sen will grab the Jags lower lip). I would think a bigger endli would be able to hold it's own against a smaller fish.

more polys would work as far as tankmates go

 

[borkowski66]

Doutbful but possible that the endli got wedged between the wood in such a manner that it could not get loose and eventually drown.

 

[thewaterboy]

i see, thanks everyone. but let's say the terror did kill it. Would there be obvious bruises and small chunks missing from the body?

 

[Cecropia]

The fins would be ripped to shreds, there'd be signs of the poly getting nibbled on post-mortem