peppermint shrimp AWOL

[dsa_mom]

i tried to search the archives, but couldn't find anything on this exact question--we have two peppermint shrimp and one is totally missing for at least a week, since the rock was slightly rearranged. Though at first he was just freaked by the change but the tank just isn't that big--not a sign of the guy or his remains. Question--is he just in hiding or could something eat him up, skeleton and all? I have even toyed with the idea of lifting up all the rock pieces to see if he was accidentally squished. No changes in water readings to indicate a carcass. We have two small hermits, another peppermint, one turbo snail and two damsels. Plus whatever lives in the rock that we don't know about. Thanks for any replies!

 

[cap'n pete]

I wouldn't be too concerned unless other things start to disappear. My wife swears there is an eel in our tank ever since a fish disappeared! The one peppermint I had vanished without a trace too. The problem is with LR is that there is so many holes and crevices that he could have easily died inside a rock and you never would be able to find him. A well setup reef will take care of such deaths in minimal time without a peak in ammonia. Brisstle worms, hermits, and other scavangers could easily consume your lost shrimp and not leave a trace.

 

[salty rick]

Not to put a damper on the optitmism but I lost one of mine and found it several weeks later behind the tank on the floor. I have a canopy but no complete cover of the tank. I suspect that a fish chased the shrimp and it jumped out of the water.

 

[indy mike]

Mine came up missing for a month and a half. They hide very well. do the flashlight thing and you'll probably see them

 

[blondenaso1]

peppermint shrimp are typicaly nocturnal. During the day mine are only occasionally seen, but at night they are the most active things in the tank. They go crazy when I feed the tank too! I think yours will turn up sooner or later.

 

[memnoch]

Sort of a different thread but i'll ask anyway, anyone ever have peppermint shrimp attack their polyps? I know my shrimp are peppermints and not camelback also. I feed the inverts fairly often, one cube of formula 2 every 2-3 days so i wouldn't think they were starved.