Peppermint Shrimp Killing Nassarius

[iemsparticus]

Hey Y'all!

So I have a 48"x24"x24" 120g tank, and have had 6 Banded Trochus Snails and 5 Cerith Snails in it with 2 Peppermint Shrimp (pretty sure they are not camelbacks... they are ORA Captuve Bred Peppermints), and everything has been perfectly fine. The other day, I added 5 Nassarius Vibex Snails (that are about 1/4" long right now), and, within 5 minutes, my bigger peppermint Shrimp grabbed one of the snails mid crawl, flipped him over, and started eating him. Since then, between both shrimp, I am down to two Nassarius Snails.

Is this normal for Peppemint Shrimp? Do they leave my other snails alone because they are bigger? Is it likely that all of my Nassarius Snails were dying, and the shrimp were "cleaning" them up early?

If I get the Super Tongan Nassarius Snails, which seem to be the same size as my Cerith Snails, might that work?

Thoughts?

 

[3mm3]

Shrimp are hit and miss. Sounds like you have some assassin's. Unfortunately I don't think they will stop.

 

[ebushrow]

Never had peppermints bother anything....although many here have had issues....I have found that if the shrimp are fed and happy they won't go after anything....but this is just my experience....they have been known to go after corals. The larger snails my fair better ..... you do have a sand bottom in the thank correct?

 

[iemsparticus]

Never had peppermints bother anything....although many here have had issues....I have found that if the shrimp are fed and happy they won't go after anything....but this is just my experience....they have been known to go after corals. The larger snails my fair better ..... you do have a sand bottom in the thank correct?

I do. :) The Peppermints go after the snails when they come out of the sand for the smell of food.

 

[iemsparticus]

Shrimp are hit and miss. Sounds like you have some assassin's. Unfortunately I don't think they will stop.

Do you think corals are at risk? Or just Specifically Nassarius Snails?

It's very strange to me that they completely ignore the Cerith and Trochus Snails, and seem to hunt the Nassarius Snails. Seems like it has to be size, the amount of flesh that comes out of the shell (which is much greater with Nassarius than the other two), or a combination of both.

 

[Brandonsegula]

Peppermint shrimps are butts. I had 3 and they all would destroy my sps corals. After I caught them chewing away at night I made the decision to throw them in my sump.

 

[Brandonsegula]

Peppermint shrimps are butts. I had 3 and they all would destroy my sps corals. After I caught them chewing away at night I made the decision to throw them in my sump.

Shrimp. Not shrimps

 

[3mm3]

Do you think corals are at risk? Or just Specifically Nassarius Snails?

It's very strange to me that they completely ignore the Cerith and Trochus Snails, and seem to hunt the Nassarius Snails. Seems like it has to be size, the amount of flesh that comes out of the shell (which is much greater with Nassarius than the other two), or a combination of both.

It's hard to say what they may go after. I have had one that left coral alone but would kill snails and bristle worms. I had another that would go after my sea cucumber. I would watch it and if it gets out of hand I would find a new home for it.