Shrimps stealing food from corals. I'm very irritated about this! Please help.

I'm not sure if this has a real fix, other than removing the peppermint shrimps out of the DT, which would not only be a royal pain in there, it would also be almost impossible unless I remove all my rock.

I've been having this problem since a few days after I started target feeding my Dendrophyllia and Candy Cane.

So, I feed them at night a little bit after lights off and while the moon lights are on. They already know that the food is coming, the dendro's tentacles are fully extended at this time, no matter what. The candy cane, doesn't put any polyps out during the day... at all! But when lights go out, it does open its mouth and extends his polyps. I don't know if this is normal, since I've seen candy canes at my LFS with their polyps extended under MH's so mine may not like my light? Does anyone know?

But anyway, that's not the issue. After I target feed them a good portion of brine or mysis, I stay there with the pipette to start smacking shrimps off these 2 corals. I have 3 peppermints in the tank, so it's a constant battle and the smacking never stops. Once the Dendro and Candy Cane are done swallowing the food, I sit back in the couch, only to see them come back, and stick their little hands in the mouths of the corals, steal the food and probably hurt the corals in the process.

It is very irritating and I about had it with these guys. They helped me with my aiptasia problem and got rid of all of it, hands down. But I would love to be able to catch them and put them in the fuge, until further assistance is needed. They seem to have been doing this for quite a while, since they have grown in size considerably since I added them to the tank.

Does anyone know how to stop this? If it can't be stopped, how do I trap them so I can vanish them to the fuge?

Any help is greatly appreciated, so thanks in advance.

- Mag.

 

magnus - I dont think you can stop them, even offering them food wont prevent them sneaking in and taking more

you could try a trap - aquamedic make one called Trapest - which I have used to capture a hitchhiker crab

bait the trap with the foods they are stealing from the corals and you have a good chance of capturing them

another method that requires patience is to leave a net in your tank for a week or so until everything gets used to it , then use the pipette to put food in the net , and all being well the shrimp move into it and you have them

or if you have a mesh live bearer box net, you could feed the corals and place that over them to stop the shrimps sneaking in and taking the food

Steve

 

I had the same problem with my peppermint and would not get them again. I do not know how you can stop them. Mine went on to eat all my mini carpet anemones, watched them do it. The rock work had to be removed to remove them, what a major PITA. Target feeding them did not work, a trap to capture them did not work.

Good luck.

 

Wow! Funny to read this post (for me,anyways). I've been chasing my peppermint for months. He stays in the rocks, except to steal food! BUT this morning before work, i went to check water temp(change of seasons outside today). I seen him swiming! up to the top of the tank! I grabed my flashlight and net and GOT HIM!!! So anyways, check in the early the morn see if its out?

 

I feel your pain, or I should say I felt your pain until I bought a trap and unceremoniously chucked 2 peppermints into my fuge.

Or you could try put a pint glass over your corals until they swallow their food.


I used this. Nets & Traps for Aquarium Use: AquaMedic Fish Trap It's big bulky and expensive, but it works like charm. They couldn't get in there fast enough.....;D

 

Try to feed a smaller food to the corals. I have had VERY good luck with Cyclopeze ni feeding them. that said I never target feed my corals, just get what they get when I feed the tank. the Cyclopeze si really small and is quick to stick to polyps and they can get it down easier from what I have noticed.

 

I have the same problem especially feeding my dendrophyllia. What I do is just use the turkey baster and everytime he comes near the food boom blast of water.

 

I say let the shrimps be, that's what they do to survive. I don't target feed my corals, it's way too much work, I just over feed my fish before lights out...I don't have dendros but I have 3 different kinds of candy cane and they grow like crazy. I use to feed the tank cyclopeze but I haven't done that in a while either, if you're set on target feeding give this a try as previously mentioned.

 

I wasn't target feeding all the time. Just the dendro on an almost daily basis since it just looks way nicer when its well fed. I didn't even know you can feed candy canes until I installed the moon lights and was able to see them at night.

I wish I could get them to ride on my hand like the cleaner shrimp used to do.. he was an easy one to catch.

I'm going to try the net trick that Steve Wright suggested and if that doesn't work, I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy a trap, or see if I can borrow one from somebody. I'm good friends with the people at my LFS and I think they may let me borrow that acrylic, cylindrical trap with a little door. They have it on display, so maybe they won't mind to let me use it overnight and bring it back in the morning.

I really thought about leaving them be, but I can't get off my head the thought that they're hurting the corals as they do this. I mean, they're really relentless and stick their pincers in the corals mouth until the corals give up and let them have the food... I'm guessing it is so they don't get hurt anymore.

Wish me luck... I have 3 in there!!

 

Maybe net them while they're stealing the food, instead of whacking them with the baster...or whack them into the net LOL.