Shrimps picking on my BTA

rich nyc · Apr 23, 2017

I finally succumbed to getting a rbta. My Wyoming white has been and still is hosting my rasta colony and figured I would give them a bta. However, since I have gotten him, every time he opens up and has beautiful bubbles, my peppermint shrimps and cleaner shrimps starts touching it and it completely retracts. I am happy he bubbles up but want him to be open so eventually my clowns will go in it. Have you had similar problems? TIA, Rich

ndrwater · Apr 23, 2017

I have said this 100 times before, and this will make 101. Peppermints are the devil. Cleaners aren't usually an issue, but apparently your peppermints go to the same Union Hall as the cleaners and have passed along the idea of their evil ways.
Yes, peppermints will eat Aptasia, sometimes, but when presented with an Aptasia free tank, the fleshy tissue of LPS or anemones, bad things can and usually do happen.
Other common problem with peppermints is that they an and will go into the mouth of the anemone, LPS, or your refrigerator to get whatever food they can find. This causes not only irritation, but often damage potentially leading to damage and or death.

rich nyc · Apr 23, 2017

there is no way i could catch my peppermint shrimps with my set up. it is way too deep in there

cmcoker · Apr 23, 2017

rich nyc said:
there is no way i could catch my peppermint shrimps with my set up. it is way too deep in there

Make a bottle trap, add some bait and trap them

Zack K · Apr 24, 2017

cmcoker said:
Make a bottle trap, add some bait and trap them

This worked for me. I never saw the 2 shrimp until i put a Heliofungia in and then boom, they wouldn't leave it alone. a bottle trap worked perfectly and in 24hr they were both out of my tank.