RIP little dude

[baconmeupscotty]

I noticed yesterday that my wonky little delhezi wasn't out and about like usual. I looked several times today, all over the tank and he's gone. There's not place he could hide without being seen from one angle or another. I figure he either jumped out of the tiny holes on the back of the lid (unlikely but stranger things have been known to happen) and my cats got him, or he died and was eaten by his tank mates. He seemed to be doing well despite his deformity and had made it to 6.5 inches long. I didn't expect him to live as long as a healthy bichir but I expected him to be around at least a few years. Here's some of his recent pics.

 

[Dr.B]

wait so are you saying you think he's dead or you have physical evidence that it's dead? Cause especially with delhezi's they like to dig. I thought mine jumped, but came back the next day and witnessed him digging and burying himself in the sand. How long have you not seen him?

 

[baconmeupscotty]

wait so are you saying you think he's dead or you have physical evidence that it's dead? Cause especially with delhezi's they like to dig. I thought mine jumped, but came back the next day and witnessed him digging and burying himself in the sand. How long have you not seen him?

I can't see a head or anything poking out anywhere. It's been about 36 hours.

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[festaedan]

I think he jumped. I had a massive 16" endii in my 120 who escaped while I was asleep. Thank goodness I heard the loud thump or I would've woken up to a dried up poly. Have you checked behind the tank? Assuming it's against a wall, your cats might not be able to fit behind there. Is there any odor coming from the back of the tank?

 

[Dr.B]

I wouldn't give up on him that fast try and check around the back of the tank. I had a fish that just disappeared once and it turned out it had jumped out the back, but it didn't smell so it went undetected for 2 years. Also what kinda of filter do you have? and what are the tank mates? I feel like this is a mystery that needs to be solved…...

 

[BuffaloPolypteridae]

^ right Dr, I wouldn't feel comfortable just not knowing lol. I thought this happened to my weeksii (he jumped or something) but I found him a couple days later, he had literally dug himself a little hole under a big rock in the sand. I'd take apart the tank for a quick look see

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[Dr.B]

I asked about what kind of filter you had, because I've heard that sometimes they find themselves a way into HOB filters. Also unless you have some huge tank mates I'm not sure they'd be able to eat him and leave no trace like bones etc.., I think he either jumped or is hiding from you.

 

[baconmeupscotty]

I think he jumped. I had a massive 16" endii in my 120 who escaped while I was asleep. Thank goodness I heard the loud thump or I would've woken up to a dried up poly. Have you checked behind the tank? Assuming it's against a wall, your cats might not be able to fit behind there. Is there any odor coming from the back of the tank?

The tank/stand is about 5 inches off the wall; plenty of space for one of my two kittens to fit :/

I wouldn't give up on him that fast try and check around the back of the tank. I had a fish that just disappeared once and it turned out it had jumped out the back, but it didn't smell so it went undetected for 2 years. Also what kinda of filter do you have? and what are the tank mates? I feel like this is a mystery that needs to be solved…...

Two Fluval 406's. Tank mates are a 10 inch Senegal, 9 inch moke, 9 inch palmas palmas, 9 inch retropinnis, 2 ctenopomas and a 7 inch synodontis catfish. I toss in silversides about his girth (although not as long) and they disappear without a trace.

 

[festaedan]

If one of your cats throws up we'll know what happened. If he didnt become cat food he's probably burried. The next time you change the water take out all of the decorations and run your fingers through the sand. I thought my spiny eel escaped but I did just that and found him completely burried.

 

[baconmeupscotty]

If one of your cats throws up we'll know what happened. If he didnt become cat food he's probably burried. The next time you change the water take out all of the decorations and run your fingers through the sand. I thought my spiny eel escaped but I did just that and found him completely burried.

I hope your right. One of the cats had has mild diarrhea for a couple days but they are brand new to our house so it could have been stress induced. We're moving in a month so I'll have a good change to dig around and look under the stand.