anemone not able to eat due to shrimp

[c42480]

I have 3 Anemones in my tank and 5 pepperment shrimp all bought from this site. The issue i am having is the shripm keep taking the food from the anemones. They do it to all 3 but mostly to the bta. Is there any way to stop this or prevent it. How should i feed the anemones?
Thanks Chuck

 

[ric maniac]

how big is this tank?! 5 pepermint shrimp seem like a lot to me

maybe they aren't getting enough food. try feeding the shrimp a lot of food, then feed the anemones once the shrimp are full.

 

[texasmetal]

Hmm, if you have any fish hosting these anemones they will usually defend the anemone, considering the anemone is their protection from predators.
Point is, get some clowns! They won't allow this to happen, and might actually feed the anemone themselves.

 

[c42480]

I have 2 clowns they will go in and out of the bta but never stay in the bta for extended periods of time. I have a 90 gallon with a sump. The only way to buy the shrimp from this site is in groupes of 5. I try and feed the shrimp first than the anemones. But the shrimp will drop the food they have to get the food the anemone has.
Chuck

 

[perfectdark]

Well first of all getting a pair of clowns wont ensure that your anenome will eat again without inturruption. I have the same issue with my RBTA and my cleaner shrimp. What I did to combat this issue was, decrease the size of the piece of food I am feeding the anenome. That way it will close up completly around the food and consume it faster. Also I keep my cleaning brush for the tank in the water and watch for the shrimp to see if they start to wander near the anenome. If so I just wave the brush at it and the shrimp darts away. It takes about 10 minutes and the anenome has completly enveloped the food and their is no chance for the shrimp to get it after that.

 

[jesses89]

Originally Posted by PerfectDark
Well first of all getting a pair of clowns wont ensure that your anenome will eat again without inturruption. I have the same issue with my RBTA and my cleaner shrimp. What I did to combat this issue was, decrease the size of the piece of food I am feeding the anenome. That way it will close up completly around the food and consume it faster. Also I keep my cleaning brush for the tank in the water and watch for the shrimp to see if they start to wander near the anenome. If so I just wave the brush at it and the shrimp darts away. It takes about 10 minutes and the anenome has completly enveloped the food and their is no chance for the shrimp to get it after that.

 

[c42480]

I will try the smaller peice of food idea. Hope that works for me. I have tried to keep them away with the skewers i feed the anemones but the shrimp work as a team i chase one away and another comes from a different direction. Like i said they like the peice of food the anemones have than they go back to the food i gave them in the first place.
Chuck

 

[mach03infront]

yeah recently my cleaner shrimp takes my green bta food away also.

.. i just wait there till the anemone is done eating or esle it would be dead by now cause of my stupid shrimp.
rugh pain in the butt!