How to Find and Kill Evil Hitchhikers

Murminator · #1 04-18-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragonsteeth

What could this creature be that seeks and destroys several fish overnight?

This was my question also I been trying to help her on AA also. I cannot see a crab killing a blue sided wrasse, royal gramma, clown, damsel, midas blenny, and 3 shrimp in one night with no visible scars.
I think it is biological the tank does contain 2 sea apples and 2 anemones I think the apples got stressed released something(poison) into the water killed everything and since it was such a small space it was quickly skimmed out by morning
......but I have recently fallin off a turnip truck

....so I been told

Pier Pressure · #2 04-18-2007, 08:10 PM

Murray according to the research I have done on sea apples, if they release the toxin they are done. They blow up to volleyball size and die after the release of the toxin. Elite has sea apples in many of their tanks, and I was informed that they have seen feeder tentacles pulled off and a sea apple actually cut in half and in neither case did they release the toxin.

The green bubble tip anemone hosts a white caribbean crab who is still alive and fine, and the white sebae is located right next to my open brain and xenia and they are fine, too.

I could see the poison thing being a reality if everything did indeed die. But the hermit crabs, emerald crab, sea apples, anemones, etc. are all fine. Why didn't they die, too?

Also what about that crazy firefish? How come he is still alive and fine, though appears skittish as stated?

I have no idea what could kill all those creatures overnight but if I find anything I will certainly let you know.

I just had a thought - I bought a gi-normous brittle star (purple and black in colour) a few months ago. He disappeared into the rocks and we laughed and laughed at having spent $35 on a creature we have only seen once.

Well, I managed to catch a glimpse of one of his arms yesterday and he is huge. Could one of those kill the creatures if so inclined? I am going to look that up right away.

Thing is - that brittle star has been in there for months. Why kill so suddenly? And isn't it a coincidence that I put new coral frags and a gsp rock in that day, and suddenly everybody is dead less than twelve hours later?

Thank you for all of your help, guys, here and on AA. It will drive me crazy until I figure it out. And I do not want to put more livestock into a death zone without knowing what killed everybody.

seashells · #3 04-18-2007, 08:12 PM

I have lost crabs, snails, a clown, and now my Mandarin has slices in its tail fin. Frustration!! Can't find the culprit!

dunl · #4 04-18-2007, 08:24 PM

What kind of marks are on the fish? If nothing, it's not a crab, mantis, or brittle star.

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #5 04-18-2007, 08:44 PM

Large starfish can be fish predators. What type was it? Google it to see if the one you bought is possibly the culprit.

ludwig9393 · #6 04-19-2007, 03:31 AM

Hi,
can someone please identify what kind of crab is this? I just put the rocks in my tank and this hitchhiker come out. Is my future livestocks safe with this on the same tank?

sorry but thats the best shot i can get.

many thanks!

Rippin · #7 04-19-2007, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ludwig9393

Hi,
can someone please identify what kind of crab is this? I just put the rocks in my tank and this hitchhiker come out. Is my future livestocks safe with this on the same tank?

sorry but thats the best shot i can get.

many thanks!

The pics are too blurry for any type of positive ID. Try moving back from the glass and use the zoom on your camera to enlarge it (if you have zoom on your camera).

ludwig9393 · #8 04-19-2007, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rippin

The pics are too blurry for any type of positive ID. Try moving back from the glass and use the zoom on your camera to enlarge it (if you have zoom on your camera).

thanks! i'll try to have a much clearer picture.

Salmon King · #9 04-19-2007, 03:48 AM

A few years ago in my reef tank I spotted a red and black crab.It was neat looking so I left it in the tank.I had a purple and a Lavender tang dissapere.The next time I saw that little crab it was 6 inches .I caught him and never lost a fish again.A friend of mine had a large brittle star and a bunch of damsils in a tank.He was loosing a lot of fish and could/nt figure it out.One day he saw that star fish snag a fish.He said it was really fast.I always thought they were slow like slugs

BCOrchidGuy · #10 04-19-2007, 04:42 AM

I had a green brittle star that would move 3 feet (across a 33 gallon in a second or less) and grab a damsel for breakfast, the star ate all 3 damsels in 3 mornings, after that I took it back and bought some keeper fish.

Swollen gills eh? any spots on the gills that you can see, are they pink still or discoloured? Any new rock, coral or fish added that was not QT'd? I know it seems we are not listening but we are and we'd all like to figure this out with you. Normally if the culprit is a crab, mantis etc there will be physical trauma to the body, seeing as this is not the case environmental issues/concerns or disease look suspect.

Doug