Shrimp Problems!

[Zack K]

So I have 2 peppermint shrimp in my reef and I don't see them very often. They only wander on out when feeding time comes or when I stir up the tank. So I bought a Heliofungia today and one shrimp will not leave him alone! How do I fix this or do I just have to let it happen?

 

[Garrett W.]

They are checking the coral for food to try and steal from it. They should stop once they realize there's no food to take. but when you feed, if any gets on the coral they will go after it. My fire shrimp does it to my pagoda cup every time i feed the tank.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I've had some decimate a frog spawn once. Literally tearing flesh from it! They can turn on some coral, that's why I don't keep them anymore. Cleaners and fires, no problems.

 

[Garrett W.]

I've had some decimate a frog spawn once. They can turn on some coral, that's why I don't keep them anymore. Cleaners and fires, no problems.

I agree with Flippers. I would keep an eye on it. If it just keeps going after it, even when you're not feeding, you may have to yank it.

 

[Zack K]

I've had some decimate a frog spawn once. Literally tearing flesh from it! They can turn on some coral, that's why I don't keep them anymore. Cleaners and fires, no problems.

I had an aptaisa problem so I got these guys and they solved my problem. They seem to leave my GSP and Colt Coral alone, but good to know!

 

[Zack K]

Looks to be fluorescent prices laying next to the plate. Did the shrimp tear him apart?[emoji35]

 

[Flippers4pups]

It's possible.

 

[cmcoker]

Definitely possible, peppermint shrimp are banned from my display for picking on my fungia, almost to death. As well as picking on acans.

 

[mallorieGgator]

The coral looks to be damaged in the first pictures. I can see skeleton. If there is dead tissue it is possible the shrimp are picking that off to eat.

 

[Zack K]

I will keep a closer eye on them. If worst comes to worst just throw a bottle in there with some food for a shrimp trap.

 

[Water Wings]

I just trapped mine earlier this week after watching him pick at LPS off and on for a couple of months. I tried target feeding him thinking he was hungry but I swear he just took a liking to LPS flesh. Returned him today for some store credit and got a cleaner shrimp instead. I tried a 12 oz water bottle trap but couldn't catch him, switched over to a 2L bottle and he was caught overnight on the first attempt.

Just my experience, he did his job on the aptasia but didn't stop once he was done.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I'd pull'm and send him back to LFS.

 

[Baby Ray]

I had a peppermint shrimp that would not leave my trumpet coral alone and it got so annoying I took him back. I will never get one again. I would catch him and take him back to your LFS.

 

[Zack K]

Looks to be all intact from above but very minimal polyp extension. Could it be adjust to parameters? is it irratated by the shrimp? Too much light?

 

[cmcoker]

Looks to be all intact from above but very minimal polyp extension. Could it be adjust to parameters? is it irratated by the shrimp? Too much light?

Could be any of the above, however it had good extension before the shrimp didn't it? Looked like in the picture with the shrimp that the areas it hadn't irritated were pretty extended.

The mouth looks like it's been picked at though, and there is an area around 1-2 o'clock that appears white, that also looks like it may have been picked at. So my thinking is the shrimp

 

[SamsReef]

Looks to be all intact from above but very minimal polyp extension. Could it be adjust to parameters? is it irratated by the shrimp? Too much light?

It is 200 percent the peppermint. I have had happen in my tank...several years back with a plate coral(only plate coral)...and most recently with bounce mushroom(SOB, tore a nice bubble in front of me and eat a piece)...on both cases, the peppermint was promptly caught and put in the sump...while you catch the shrimp, you can move the plate coral in frag tank or top of the scape...

 

[Baby Ray]

It is defiantly the shrimp. I would catch him and take him back before he dose any more damaged?

 

[Baby Ray]

It is defiantly the shrimp. I would catch him and take him back before he dose any more damaged?

Don't know why I typed the question mark:p

 

[Zack K]

It is defiantly the shrimp. I would catch him and take him back before he dose any more damaged?

They will be removed ASAP

 

[cmcoker]

They will be removed ASAP

If you have any trouble removing them you might consider putting a strawberry container or something similar on top of the plate so they can't get to it. Something like this, just make sure it allows enough flow through it