Whodunit?

[mommafish]

I went home at lunch today and my cleaner shrimp was cut to pieces!
Who did it? I have two clarkii clowns, two emerald crabs and a scooter blenny.

 

[michaeltx]

could it have moled ( LOL I cant spell molted) if not I would look towrds the emerald crabs. they can get a bit brave and go after other crabs and shrimp for a meal. sorry about the loss though
Mike

 

[bullshark]

Cleaner shrimp will molt often. You could possibly be looking at its old, discarded exoskeleton. Search around to see if you can find the shrimp elsewhere. Of course, if it is indeed the shrimp itself, I would also point to the emerald. My emerald is shy, but eats voraciously, so I could imagine one taking out a shrimp. If the sizes were right, that is.

 

[mommafish]

It's definitely the shrimp. Molting was my first thought too, but it's big hunks of meat.
I love having the cleaner shrimp though! My clowns absolutely loved being cleaned by him. Should I try another one, or take the emerald crab back to the lfs first?

 

[michaeltx]

is there a spcific reason that you got the emeralds. if so I would let them do what you got them for then move them to the sump or somehting or take them back and try for really small ones that might get along well with each other.
Mike

 

[mommafish]

I got them for clean-up crew. Are there better choices? I'm open to whatever as far as clean-up. I have crushed coral and it's getting an orangey-red burnt color to it. Is that good or bad?

 

[michaeltx]

well there are a number of things that are good.
the burnt orange may be the start of cyno or a diatoms not real sure. can you get a picture of it.
I would use micro hermits or something similiar rather than the emerald unless you have bubble algae.
also a variety of snails helps a lot on cleaning.
Mike

 

[mommafish]

What is a micro hermit and where do you get it? I didn't see any for sale on this site. I'll take a pic when I get home and post it of the coral.

 

[michaeltx]

there just really small blue leg or scarlet hermits usually smaller than the size of your pinky nail. these are the ones I usually get anyway.
Mike