peppermint shrimp ate my Duncan

[nate213]

I fed my Duncan a small chunk of silverside about a week ago. I found a peppermint shrimp on top of the Duncan trying to wrestle the chunk out, so I put a small plastic bowl with holes over the top to protect him. I put 3-4 rubble rocks on top of the bowl to hold it down secure. The Duncan was beginning to recover and started looking good. Then yesterday morning I found that the bowl was no longer on top of the Duncan and he was eaten down to the skeleton.

Anyone else had this happen before? I really liked the Duncan and am thinking about getting rid of all the shrimp.

 

[shrimpi]

most shrimps will wrestle food out of your corals mouth if given the chance. I usually hand a piece of food to the shrimp when feeding the tank to keep him 'occupied' while I feed the corals.
Peppermint shrimp are not coral eaters HOWEVER there are many species of shrimp being sold as 'peppermint shrimp' that are not true carribean peps. They will and can destroy your coral and are a pain to catch.
It is more likely your coral was sick and the shrimp was just eating the bad parts but if you are convinced he ate your healthy coral, take him out (which may be a total pain in the butt) and take him back to the LFS.
Get a skunk cleaner or fire shrimp instead.
Sorry for your loss
Jess

 

[mr.clownfish]

Originally Posted by Shrimpi
http:///forum/post/2936366
most shrimps will wrestle food out of your corals mouth if given the chance. I usually hand a piece of food to the shrimp when feeding the tank to keep him 'occupied' while I feed the corals.
Peppermint shrimp are not coral eaters HOWEVER there are many species of shrimp being sold as 'peppermint shrimp' that are not true carribean peps. They will and can destroy your coral and are a pain to catch.
It is more likely your coral was sick and the shrimp was just eating the bad parts but if you are convinced he ate your healthy coral, take him out (which may be a total pain in the butt) and take him back to the LFS.
Get a skunk cleaner or fire shrimp instead.
Sorry for your loss
Jess

yeah he is right. i had a "peppermint" shrimp once to eat my aiptasia instead it ate my zoos. i could catch him so i lured him out with a peace of shrimp and i crushed him in the tank. it was so sad