Cleaner shrimp disappeared

[timocean]

Dear all, my beloved cleaner shrimp disappeared this week, and I am wondering about causes. Was it simply too old (had it since three years). Or might it have been eaten by a fish (big yellow wrasse, fridmani, new powder brown, new chelmon might be suspects)? as Inwould like to get 1-2 new, I would like to make sure I have no threads for them in my tank. Thanks!

 

[Fish Styx]

Dear all, my beloved cleaner shrimp disappeared this week, and I am wondering about causes. Was it simply too old (had it since three years). Or might it have been eaten by a fish (big yellow wrasse, fridmani, new powder brown, new chelmon might be suspects)? as Inwould like to get 1-2 new, I would like to make sure I have no threads for them in my tank. Thanks!

Is it possible that it molted and is just chilling out somewhere?

 

[timocean]

Is it possible that it molted and is just chilling out somewhere?

Maybe. But I haven’t found the mold, and it would be quite some time now already. So maybe there is hope… The liste fish do not look suspicious, right?!

 

[Fish Styx]

Maybe. But I haven’t found the mold, and it would be quite some time now already. So maybe there is hope… The liste fish do not look suspicious, right?!

The pseudochromis species generally have a taste for them. However, your orchid dottyback is usually the exception (usually). How large is the butterfly? Also, depending on the size of that coris, he could be your culprit.

 

[nick7948]

If you haven't checked at night it may be worth a look. I have two tanks with cleaners and in one my cleaner shrimp are always out and in the other there's been time that I haven't seen one or more of them for 2+ weeks, except for when they come out at night. With that said, there has been times over the years that they've died but I never could determine a reason or find the body. And my tanks have been SPS/torch/tang type ones for a while, so no real predators. My guess on the deaths have always been that a weakened one (molting or otherwise) got stuck to a Vortech or something.

 

[moz71]

Funny thin about your question. I thought I lost my cleaner skunk shrimp over 6 months ago. First thought it was just hiding during its usual molt but after weeks and no sign I figured died and eaten. However this morning. I found it unfortunately it looks like the molt got untangled in Antennas and died. From the looks it happened last night and has been alive all this time. But I do have intense rock work to hide

 

[timocean]

The pseudochromis species generally have a taste for them. However, your orchid dottyback is usually the exception (usually). How large is the butterfly? Also, depending on the size of that coris, he could be your culprit.

Then I guess the coris is the culprit. It’s my biggest fish at roughly 7 inch and massive. The Chelmon is also quite big. It is new, while the coris is in since 6 month plus.

 

[timocean]

If you haven't checked at night it may be worth a look. I have two tanks with cleaners and in one my cleaner shrimp are always out and in the other there's been time that I haven't seen one or more of them for 2+ weeks, except for when they come out at night. With that said, there has been times over the years that they've died but I never could determine a reason or find the body. And my tanks have been SPS/torch/tang type ones for a while, so no real predators. My guess on the deaths have always been that a weakened one (molting or otherwise) got stuck to a Vortech or something.

Unfortunately, my night expeditions were not successful.

Funny thin about your question. I thought I lost my cleaner skunk shrimp over 6 months ago. First thought it was just hiding during its usual molt but after weeks and no sign I figured died and eaten. However this morning. I found it unfortunately it looks like the molt got untangled in Antennas and died. From the looks it happened last night and has been alive all this time. But I do have intense rock work to hide

I am sorry for your loss! And thanks for giving hope… :-)