Banded Cleaner Shrimp Aggression

[kfries]

Has anyone ever noticed a skunk* cleaner shrimp getting aggressive towards fish? Mine was chasing my mandarin goby away from the rock work a few days ago. The goby was in an area the shrimp is not usually in. I have never noticed a shrimp getting aggressive or chasing fish away. He did molt about four days later. Does molting cause aggression or territorial behavior in shrimp? The mandarin is about a third the size of the shrimp.

 

[zfisk]

I had one with a real attitude in my first tank. Every time anything got close to him he would swipe at it. I ended up taking him back to the store

 

[blaxsun]

I've seen shrimp "wave off" mandarins, but I've never seen any actually go after them (this includes a coral banded shrimp). Dead fish - maybe. Live fish - unlikely.

 

[kfries]

The mandarin is doing very well. It even eats mysis. They were all added at the same time. The shrimp only did it for a day and has moved back to his usual "layer". It just seemed odd. Thanks for the feedback.
I did have a coral banded shrimp years ago that was ripping my hermits out of their shells and eating them. It was rehomed to the refugium in the sump.

 

[Mark Goode]

Was it trying to jump onto the fish to do a bit of cleaning, but the fish didn't want to know? Just a thought.

 

[kfries]

I hadnt thought about. I do recall that the mandarin had sand specs all over him from a tank cleaning. Probably what was going on. Thanks.

 

[kevgib67]

I agree, mine is always going after fish to clean them. The only one that lets it is my diamond watchman goby. It makes them both happy.