Will fish eat another fish bones and all?

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   peeplesposted 9 years ago

   Will fish eat another fish bones and all?
   
   Our Algae eater has been missing for 2 days. I have taken everything out of the aquarium one piece at a time. I have taken apart the pump. He is gone! The other fish in the tank (4) are 2 minnows and two 1 1/2" goldfish. Could they have eaten him bones and all? There is no trace he was ever in there.

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2. 75

   thranaxposted 9 years ago

   Fish will often eat any other fish that can fit in its mouth. Its why in tanks you see fish of the same size. Some fish get along, others eat each other, others big enough that get along eat eachother if hungry. Smaller fish can survive if they have places to hide from bigger fish, or if they have numbers to school together for protection. Always look up or ask if different kinds of fish can get along with each other.
   
   ~thranax~

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      peeplesposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks I did, and was told these would be fine together since they were all about the same size and typically get along. Would they leave bones behind if they ate another fish?

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   MizBejabbersposted 9 years ago

   That is really strange. My kids had aquariums for years, and some of their smaller fish got eaten, but we never lost an algae eater. Then I got some goldfish that grew to 9 inches long because we brought them in from our frog pond outside, and our small algae eater immediately disappeared. I would have said that your fish were too small to eat him, but where else could he have gone?

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      peeplesposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Maybe he died on his own and they just took advantage of the moment for a nice big meal? I'm really clueless and kind of sad. We only had him a month. No way he jumped out or anything. Clueless!

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   DrMark1961posted 9 years ago

   Hi Peeples it is extremely unlikely that your other fish ate the algae eater. If you had Silver Dollars, or even Angelfish, I would be in doubt. You said that you checked the pump but also need to consider the bones might have migrated down in the gravel (if your filter is under the gravel) or might have been caught up in a corner filter.
   Small fish bones dissolve into the water quickly. Dont blame your little fish for this!

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      peeplesposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I literally have searched it all from top to bottom. There is no sign he was ever in there. My filter is not under gravel but I checked under just in case. Also took everything out.  I'm going to blame aliens or maybe someone broke in just for him.

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      DrMark1961posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Buy a plecostomus next time. They eat algae too but are immune to aliens and are so ugly that they scare off almost all aquarium thieves.

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   connorjposted 9 years ago

   
   
   Yes it is a slight possibility; however, it is highly unlikely a fish will completely devour flesh and bone (unless swallowed). I speculate that a tac (backwards) is responsible; that is, on the assumption that you are indeed "owned" by a feline. The tell-tale clue is the missing body.

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      peeplesposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I am actually not currently owned by a cat. Maybe the dog at it!

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      connorjposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Well then since you are indeed free and not owned by a cat; this is a "wee-bit" of an enigma. I need more information...

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