Hey all, I’ve got a 20 gallon nano tank with zoa, hammers, and candy cane coral. Just a couple fish and a cleaner shrimp in there too. I’ve had the shrimp for almost 2 years now and it hasn’t picked at any of my corals. I brought home a torch today (got dipped before going in the tank) and at first it was fine and the torch was pretty happy, but I went to check on the tank tonight - the torch was fully retracted and the cleaner shrimp was picking at it. I could see chunks of the torch it was pulling out and releasing, so it’s not eating it…just attacking it? I dipped and rinsed the torch really well, so I don’t think it’s that. I didn’t feed the coral today, so I don’t think it’s food either.
The tank gets fed once a day, usually a heavier feeding and I make sure everyone in there gets some. They generally get some frozen brine and mysis, occasionally a little nori.
I know cleaner shrimp love to steal food, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here. It’s never picked at any other coral I’ve put in there. Pretty stumped about this behavior - I’ve kept many of these shrimp and never have I seen one do this. For now I’ve got the torch protected under a big mushroom cage. Has anyone else experienced this or have any pointers?
The tank gets fed once a day, usually a heavier feeding and I make sure everyone in there gets some. They generally get some frozen brine and mysis, occasionally a little nori.
I know cleaner shrimp love to steal food, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here. It’s never picked at any other coral I’ve put in there. Pretty stumped about this behavior - I’ve kept many of these shrimp and never have I seen one do this. For now I’ve got the torch protected under a big mushroom cage. Has anyone else experienced this or have any pointers?