Do cleaner shrimp eat bristle worms?!?

GloomyGoomy · Mar 17, 2019

I was watching my cleaner shrimp scurry along the sandbed after the lights went off. He loves looking for any leftover food and what not. Tonight he grabbed a bristle worm and took it back to his normal hang out spot. It looks like he is eating it?

Has anyone else seen this before?

Brad Miller · Mar 17, 2019

I’ve never seen mine do that, but I have a friend that says his does this all the time

GloomyGoomy · Mar 17, 2019

Brad Miller said:
I’ve never seen mine do that, but I have a friend that says his does this all the time

I watched him for awhile longer and he eventually ripped the worm apart. I never thought a skunk cleaner shrimp to be a predator. Who knew those tiny claws were that strong? Glad to hear someone else’s shrimp does the same

ca1ore · Mar 17, 2019

I think they are opportunistic feeders

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Brad Miller · Mar 17, 2019

I would think they may not be getting enough food for them to do this....I target him every now and then with some fish pieces in my regular feeding mix.
I also over feed on purpose for him and cuc

GloomyGoomy · Mar 17, 2019

Brad Miller said:
I would think they may not be getting enough food for them to do this....I target him every now and then with some fish pieces in my regular feeding mix.
I also over feed on purpose for him and cuc

I feed him mysis shrimp twice a week when I feed my coral. I also see him eating from the algae clip and durning regular feeding times. Do you think I should directly feed him more? I was having an issu with phosphates so I did reduce how much I feed daily

ca1ore · Mar 17, 2019

I wouldn’t worry too much about the CUC beyond just adequately feeding your fish. They wax/wane based on available food. If your shrimp eats a bristle worm, so be it. Unless, of course, you were particularly fond of that particular worm ..... in that case, sorry for the loss

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