Scared to death

[masterswimmer]

:Thinking: I've had a black saddleback clown in my 16g for a few months now. Doing just great.

I've tried to pair her up with another black saddleback a few times. Each time the newcomer bites the dust. Not happy about that.

Well I tried again. Thursday I picked up another bl saddleback. This time I inadvertantly picked one that was at least close in size to my original, possibly, just possibly a tad larger (not intentionally).

I woke up the next morning and everything was cool. I'm thinking I might have finally succeeded. I guess it only took one more night. I woke up yesterday, went to check out the tank and only saw one bl saddleback there. BTW, there are no other fish in the tank, just the saddlebacks.

I'm checking behind rocks (visually, not moving anything), powerheads, pumps......nothing. I take a step back from the tank to observe from a different perspective and the squishiness I felt under my bare foot was unmistakeable. :eek1: I picked up my little carpet surfer, examined her for any sign of life and saw none. My original clown must have gotten scared by the new little guy that she jumped ship.

I'm upset because this clown had personality. I'm gonna miss her.

RIP

swimmer

 

[inline6]

Sorry to hear that.
It stinks when they surf, I experienced that also.

 

[masterswimmer]

Over two years in the hobby, first surfer I've ever had. Well, I can't say never anymore!

Thanks inline.

swimmer

 

[inkblue]

sorry Russ, my Six-Line did the same thing last week :sad2:

 

[Dmitry]

My Hippo surfed once; I scared her myself. But it was at night and there was no light anywhere. My only clue was a slight splash of water that hit my face... And I thought "That can't be good." Flashlight in hand I started searching around and found her lying still behind the sump. I figured she was dead - she seemed rigid and wasn't breathing. And then I saw her gills flickering and figured she was playing dead. (Stupid stupid fish!) Put her into the tank and she zoomed into the rock-work. Anyway, that's a happy ending story. Sorry about your Clown!!! :grouphug:

 

[masterswimmer]

Thank you ink.

Anyway, that's a happy ending story. Sorry about your Clown!!! :grouphug:

Thanks Dmitry. Sounds like yours was a happy hippo ending. :biggrin:

swimmer

 

[coralcrazy]

if this is the first loss you had..no worries, that really good...i am sure she is in a better place in the great fish bowl in the sky ..it's not your fault stuff happens

 

[masterswimmer]

Thanks Jon. Appreciate the kind words.

swimmer

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Sorry Russ. That Sux.

 

[masterswimmer]

Thanx Brendan. You know, it's funny, I'm not sure which sucks more, losing the fish to surfing or losing that particular fish. I'm leaning towards that particular fish. It's weird how we can develop these attachments to a fish.

R

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Russ I agree totally especially since some fish are more personable than others.

 

[scarf_ace1981]

it totally sucks when they go surfing. you just have a feeling that something is wrong and when you go look. yup there it is.

russ i once had this frontosa(check them out) cichlid go surfing. i got home from work and didn't see it right away. when i look next to the tank there it was on the floor. dry and a little stiff. i looked @ it and thought i saw it's tail move. so i dumped it in the tank and it was alive. it did great until i put it with my large frontosa and it got killed.

 

[masterswimmer]

Scarf, I used to breed Tanganyikans, so I'm very familiar with Frontosa's. Not sure what size yours was, but I've seen them 14". That's a major jumper!

I did check my little guy for any signs of life. Nada. I even dipped him back into the tank just to make sure. Nuthin'.

No more wc clowns in that tank for me.

Russ I agree totally especially since some fish are more personable than others.

Brendan, some are not only more personable than others, but more personable and pleasant than some people I know! :sad2:

swimmer

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

LOL Russ you're right!