RFA and peppermint shrimp

[zbrusko]

Can an RFA eat a peppermint shrimp? I added 2 shrimp to a QT to hopefully eat aiptasia off a rock that has 4 RFAs on it. This morning I saw the attached. Did not expect this at all.

 

[OrchidMiss]

Yep, sure can if they're hungry enough.

 

[zbrusko]

I guess I need to feed them more. So sad to lose a shrimp this way! Live & learn.

 

[OrchidMiss]

It can go both ways, actually. Peppermints have been known to eat RFAs as well, keep an eye out.

 

[zbrusko]

I need to go back to plan A and get the RFAs off the rock. May try the PVC pipe method I saw somewhere here, as nothing else I tried worked. If I can do that, is it safe to assume completely drying out the rock will kill the aiptasia?

 

[OrchidMiss]

In my experience, rock flowers are the easiest of anemones to remove from rocks. I pick them off with my hands without issue.
Are you just removing them from the rock, or completely from the tank?
Good luck!

 

[Mhamilton0911]

It might just be a molt. My rfa's eat my shrimp molts nearly every time.

 

[zbrusko]

From the rock for now. Step one is to get rid of the aiptasia. Then I’ll get the RFAs in the DT.

 

[OrchidMiss]

I need to go back to plan A and get the RFAs off the rock. May try the PVC pipe method I saw somewhere here, as nothing else I tried worked. If I can do that, is it safe to assume completely drying out the rock will kill the aiptasia?

Drying the rock out will also destroy any good bacteria and may cause diatoms when put back I to the tank.
I take the rock out and scrub the rock in the bucket I siphon out when doing a WC, removes the aiptasia outside of the DT

 

[zbrusko]

It might just be a molt. My rfa's eat my shrimp molts nearly every time.

Oh, thats a good thought. Shrimp have been hiding. Maybe it was a molt! Though I only added them to the tank 3 days ago - so I attributed the hiding to that.

 

[zbrusko]

Drying the rock out will also destroy any good bacteria and may cause diatoms when put back I to the tank.
I take the rock out and scrub the rock in the bucket I siphon out when doing a WC, removes the aiptasia outside of the DT

I don’t need the rock to go back in the tank. The rfas came on it.

 

[Mhamilton0911]

Here's an example from my thread, a good picture since you can really see the whole molt. I've also seen where it was just the annentea exposed like your picture.

Post in thread 'Maggie's Mixed Reef Build V3, now a 75!' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/maggies-mixed-reef-build-v3-now-a-75.907616/post-10529257

 

[zbrusko]

Here's an example from my thread, a good picture since you can really see the whole molt. I've also seen where it was just the annentea exposed like your picture.

Post in thread 'Maggie's Mixed Reef Build V3, now a 75!' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/maggies-mixed-reef-build-v3-now-a-75.907616/post-10529257

Those are good pictures. Turns out mine was a molt, too. Just didn’t expect it so quickly since the shrimp are new.