Cleaner Shrimp Attacking Anemone!

So my cleaner shrimp has started to pick at the bubble tip anemone in the tank. It is really concerning because every time he does it, the bta's tentacles deflate, shrivel up and don't recover for awhile. Maybe he is or isn't trying to eat it but he is still annoying it quite a lot. Has anyone ever had this happen with their shrimp before? Is there anyway to stop him from doing this to the anemone? Any ideas are appreciated

 

I've only seen mine steal food- pellets that I had just fed my GBTA a few times.

This is concerning however, good question for the board!

 

One of my two skunk cleaners is very aggressive. I put a new Duncan in my tank yesterday & shrimp went up to it. It was fine til I actually seen him tugging on it. So I got the turkey Baster out & give him a few blast to keep him away. I haven't seen him touch the duncan again.

 

I might try that then if I see him near the bta again. Thanks

 

I have to feed my fire shrimp before corals otherwise it'll steal food from them... and tries to steal from the RBTAs as well.

 

What kind of Cleaner Shrimp????

 

I've only had skunk cleaners and coral banded shrimp steal food from nems until they finally got caught and became dinner. However, I have heard of them stressing a nem to death on occasion by annoying it constantly in much the same way yours is doing.

 

Why not just take the Skunk Cleaner out?? They are not essential creatures

 

Where do you see "skunk" cleaner????

 

+1, OP hasn't said what type of cleaner, could be a skunk, could be a CBS, could be a peppermint, or a mistaken camel shrimp. Camel shrimp aren't reef safe, and peppermints can sometimes eat LPS or anems.