Sudden death?

[Hendre]

Hey everyone, Yesterday Afternoon I found my African butterfly fish (or part of him) lying dead on the tank bottom. He seemed to be half eaten since I found no other pieces anywhere. He died in the 8 hours that I was away.

I had him in the 70 for 2 weeks after a week QT and he was eating well, but occasionally refused to eat baby spiders or pellets. There was no apparent aggression towards him and he minded his own business

Yesterday morning he refused food again, he was by the tank side as usual at the surface with normal colours. When I returned home he was dead and half eaten. He was 2" or so

Tankmates:
1 Small Salvini - totally ignored the butterfly, even in a 15 QT tank

1 4" Pink tail chalceus - Nipped initially then left him alone after a few minutes

2 African knives - Ignored him

1- Synodontis Eruptus - never went to the surface and is never out during the day

Parameters:
PH - 8.1
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - <10

Any idea what could have happened?

 

[predatorkeeper87]

I'm thinking either the salv or the chalc may have finally snapped on him and killed him. I've had fish seem ok for long instances then out of seemingly no where go bananas ballistic and kill 3-4 tank mates. My coosae bass is testament to that. He lived with 6 sunfish for months on end then all of a sudden he destroyed 4 of them within the span of 2 hours.

 

[Hendre]

Would have likely been the chalceus. The minor aggression went
Butterfly > Pinkie > Sal. The pink tail was the only fish that even acknowledged the butterflies existance it seems. Hmm

 

[predatorkeeper87]

Would have likely been the chalceus. The minor aggression went
Butterfly > Pinkie > Sal. The pink tail was the only fish that even acknowledged the butterflies existance it seems. Hmm

especially since the butterfly was predated upon as well I'd wager it was your ptc too lol.