dissappearing fish

Question
QUESTION: For a few weeks now,my fish have been disappearing ,not floating on top or at bottom,vanished,I had a really big silverfin shark that disappeared this morning,within the space of 30min. One min it was there and then the next the whole thing was gone, i have also had a flathead shark and a redfin shark and a couple of frogs,gone to.In the tank at the moment we have a pleck but its not as big as the silver fin shark,we also have 2 angle fish not very big,a couple of neons and them eel things that swim at the bottom.Its really strange they have disappeared with out a trace. can you please help thanks kerri

ANSWER: Hi Kerri,
 What do you mean by "eel things"?  If you mean ghost knifefish, or elephantnoses then that is where your fish have gone.  

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: i don't know what they are but they are reddish gray ,there only thin and about 1 to 2 inch in size.There is 4 of them my silver fin shark was a lot bigger than any of them, they live at the bottom of the tank.

Answer
HI Kerri,
 Those eel things are loaches and they are not responsible for the disappearing fish.

 Have you looked around the base of the tank, i.e., on the ground.  If your tank doesn't have a cover, many fish will often jump out.  That is why it is really important to have a cover on a fish tank.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>