Problem with skunk cleaner shrimp

I think I have a killer blue hermit in my tank. I bought 10 hermits & only have a few big ones left. I've seen larger ones on top of small ones. And I don't think he was cleaning him off. I've found shells in crevices, looks like they might of used hole for protection.

 

Crabs are like Gladiators.LOL

 

Bad comparison.. but he is kinda like half the size of a computer mouse give or take. if you look at the zoanthids, you can kind of estimate how big he is given that you know the actual size of zoas.

 

For sure, I had one half this guy's size.... He was no match for him. As soon as he went in the tank, 2 of my medium sized hermits died. He is definitely going on his own tank soon. :-/

However, I would appreciate if you guys could maybe point out other causes of my shrimp's deaths so that I can look out for that as well next time i get shrimp.

 

I had two blue knuckle hermits that big. All my unexplained deaths ended upon their departure. I can't think of any other reasons your shrimp would be die

 

Be die.... I blame that on the pain meds

 

hahaha that is one colossal hermit, its when molting that all these sorts of inverts are most vulnerable. what you fear might be true... do you have any other fish that might be a predator to them?

also what are your exact water parameters? if im not mistaken shrimps are extremely sensitive to PH and salinity swings as well as being exposed to prolonged periods of NO3

 

No fish yet, nitrate ammonia and everything else is 0.
Ph 8.3 and salinity 1.024 and I use an ATO.

 

When I introduced my shrimp they both molted within a week. I'd take my guess that the hermit got them while they were molting.

 

If u don't have any fish yet it must be someone already residing in your aquarium. If u already checked your parameters accurately there are two things u can do:

1) take the suspected predators/killers out and place them in your sump if u have one, to try again with a new shrimp.

2) wait for the aquarium to be more established if its a newly set one and try again in a few months.

I would take the big crab that's killing the other hermits out.
Also... Just a thought... have u ever heard any loud "pops" or "clicks" in your aquarium? If u got live rock when u set it up there could be a mantis shrimp. They will eat hermits, snails and shrimp.