Albino Ancistrus vanished from tank

[jarrodaden]

I had to stop digging around in my tank because the other fish were getting peeved. My albino ancistrus is gone. No idea where he could be. I have turned the aquarium inside out and can not find him anywhere. He is know for hiding but unless he is under an inch of gravel, I have no idea where he is. I checked the under side of the lid too.

My albino was about 3 inches long. The only other large fish I have in that tank are banded loaches. They didn't eat him did they?

Any ideas?

[Nickintex]

Do you have an HOB filter? I found some of my ABN plecos climbed into it before.

[jarrodaden]

I don't know if you are familiar with the Eclipse "tall" tanks. It has a screened tubed with draws the water up into a filter tray in the lid above the tank.

I looked EVERYWHERE and I still can't find him.

[Mzungu]

Did you look in the stand? Maybe he's not IN the tank, but on the floor. :(

[jarrodaden]

My tank has a lid which covers the entire top. I inverted the lid and looked all up inside there too.

I will confess that I did not thoroughly check the floor, but the dog would have probably found it by now if it was on the floor.

[aggrofishkeeper]

Under the gravel....???

lol, jk.

[amilcar]

fish thiefs??

[Mzungu]

Well, I still say check under and behind the stand. You never know...

[jarrodaden]

fish thiefs??

Exactly... Time to buy a locking top.

[Mzungu]

Well, either he died and was quickly eaten, or is in there somewhere hiding.

Do you feed him algae wafers? If you have some, try waiting until about an hour after lights out, dim the room lights, drop a wafer in there, and wait a few minutes to see who comes out.

That's all I can think of. Sorry, hope he turns up alive and well!

[jarrodaden]

I put a wafer in and turned out all of the lights, but I am pretty sure he is gone.

I did my weekly water change and he didn't turn up in the gravel. I also checked all around on the floor. Nowhere... If he managed to get out of the tank, I guess the dog found him.

Looks like I have another excuse to go to the pet store.

[TaTeR ToT]

do you have any decor he could have climbed up into?
ie; fake hollow logs, anything of that sort?

[jarrodaden]

Yes, but I checked, and checked. I think he was abducted by aliens.