Lost another cleaner shrimp

Fisherman Joe · Jun 27, 2015

Hi all.

I have lost another cleaner shrimp.

That's two in a month. In your experience what's the main cause of this?

I have noticed a little unknown hitchhiker crab in my new live rock. Looks sandy coloured with a black face. But I'm not sure if it's just him or if I'm under feeding etc.

Any advice?

saltyphish · Jun 27, 2015

Post a pic of the crab if you can. I lost my scarlet skunk cleaner recently myself. I believe he had problems with his molt since he was in the process of molting. Do you run carbon?

KJ · Jun 27, 2015

Pic of crab help

KJ · Jun 27, 2015

saltyphish said:
Post a pic of the crab if you can. I lost my scarlet skunk cleaner recently myself. I believe he had problems with his molt since he was in the process of molting. Do you run carbon?

Dang

Fisherman Joe · Jun 27, 2015

Can't really get a picture of the crab. Very elusive.

I am running carbon ATM. Quite a bit.

haleyf1024 · Jun 27, 2015

Could be a predatory crab, like a gorilla or teddy bear. Any chance you have whelks?

LetItReef · Jun 27, 2015

How long did you acclimate? What's your Salinity?

Fisherman Joe · Jun 28, 2015

It was in the tank two weeks and it was fine. Salinity is unchanged. Just died mysteriously.

Fisherman Joe · Jun 28, 2015

I have three narcissus snails btw.

haleyf1024 · Jun 28, 2015

The Nass snails- are they black? Do their snouts have a speckled or lined pattern? Or is it straight white/tan? Many LFS sell whelks as nass snails by mistake or ignorance. I have heard of others seeing their snails (that turn out to be whelks) stabbing the shrimp and just killing it. Or, you may still have a bad crab or parameter swings shocked him.

Fisherman Joe · Jun 28, 2015

No the nass snails are white. I think it may be the dkh swing.

haleyf1024 · Jun 28, 2015

Then they likely aren't whelks, so that is good. I was unfortunate enough to get 2 come in on a little piece of live rock[emoji20] It very well could be the swing, do you dose?