[Super4Ever]

Okay, here's a weird one for you all.

I had a male crib that I purchased with two females a bit back. He never seemed to thrive. He was always a beautiful color but he seemed to breath heavily and his mouth was often open. He wouldn't eat much and he wanted nothing to do with the females. He eventually passed on.

I decided to get another male krib. Unfortunately, the shop only had a young male but I decided to get him anyway. The one female wasn't a fan of him, but the other allowed him to hang around with her. He seemed to be doing very well. He was eating, getting more and more colorful each day. Then suddenly, a day or so ago, I noticed he was missing. Gone. Not there.

I'm so confused. Where is this fish? Why am I cursed with male kribs?

 

[henningc]

Could he be in the UG plate or filter tubes?

 

[Super4Ever]

I don't see him in either of the filters on the tank.

 

[angelcraze]

Do you have a cave in your tank he can completely hide in? I know that sounds pretty simple. But my krib pair, when they bred disappeared for a week. In the cave though. They finally appeared with about 60 fry by their sides. The male seemed to hang out in the cave more, maybe protecting the eggs?

Also, I read that females are pretty picky. I am surprised your two tolerate eachother without killing eachother. I think a bigger male would be your best bet. My female kicked the crap out of the male between spawns too. Just tore off his tail fin and bit his cheek/lip off. It healed fine, they are very tough fish.

Unless you have a crazy pleco or meat eating scavenger, he must be hiding somewhere, or you would find a body. He wasn't that small, was he?

 

[Super4Ever]

I looked in everything he could hide in. I moved all the fake plants around. When I did water changed I moved as much as I could around. I tell you, I am at a loss.

And no, he wasn't that small. He was obviously young, but not a tiny juvenile.


EDIT: Also to add, my water parameters are perfect right now. Nothing to indicate a rotting body anywhere.

 

[angelcraze]

Sorry to hear that.

This is just another thought. I know they are bottom strata fish, but do you have a cover on your tank? Could he have gotten spooked my the harassing female and jumped out? Did you look all around/behind/shelves the aquarium? Do you have a cat? Sorry, but he had to have passed on somehow, without the body, he must have decomposed and your tank's parameters must have bounced back already.

I am sorry for your loss. Let us know if he magically reappears, I would like a happy ending, and now this mystery is bothering me.