First off I'm new to this hobby. I've bought a banded shrimp and two cleaner shrimp. Everytime I buy a hand full of fish. They disappear. Last night seven fish disappeared. I've read up on these shrimp and it do t seem like they would do this. So my question is has anyone ever experienced this type of thing?
Help a new reefer out
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Samina
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Cleaner shrimp are opportunistic from my experience in the sense that they will certainly make a meal of a dead fish. I have never seen or heard of one kill a fish but I guess that could be dependent on the shrimps size and fish size. Coral banded shrimp on the other hand can definitely have a hand in the disappearances of your fish.
How big are the shrimp you have and how big have the fish you added in past been?
How big are the shrimp you have and how big have the fish you added in past been?
MixedFruitBasket
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How old is your tank?
Samina
Valuable Member
Then I would highly suspect that coral banded shrimp. How big is your tank? Maybe you can add bigger sized fish? Are you feeding the shrimp well?
Maybe relocate the shrimps and put them in the sump or another tank and try adding a couple fish to see how they do?
Maybe relocate the shrimps and put them in the sump or another tank and try adding a couple fish to see how they do?
Seanislav
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If you used live rock from the lfs or another tank being broken down, it might be possible you could have a hitchhiker in the rocks. I ended up finding a crab after lights out one Christmas Eve many moons ago who was carrying the head of a fire fish I'd introduced a day earlier...that little turd killed and ate a couple hundred dollars worth of fish whose remains I could never find.
MixedFruitBasket
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Depending on the type of fish, you may need a more established tank or a tank with certain attributes so the fish are less likely to stress. I've had coral banded shrimp myself but I've never had them kill a fish. I have seen them go after dying fish, however.
As someone else suggested, if you purchased live rock, the aquaculture kind harvested in Florida, you may have a fish killer hiding in your tank. And if you've checked overflows and sumps and know for sure they aren't jumping out and another pet is consuming the body, I'd research a little on the needs of the fish you picked to see if they could have stressed. While I won't say it's impossible that the coral banded did away with them, I do think it's highly unlikely.
A shrimp isn't going to catch 7 healthy fish in one night. Maybe if they are 7 sick fish.
How big is the tank that you are adding 7 fish at once?
How big is the tank that you are adding 7 fish at once?
Rusty4200
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I added two little clown fish. Then three day later added 4 blue green chromisis. I think that's how you spell it. What all of you folks say makes sense. All I left now is two red fire fish and shrimp and crabs an snail. From what everyone as said. I think I'll just hold off on adding anymore livestock.
