cleaner shrimp ate mantis shrimp for breakfast

[busterb]

Got up this morning and did the flash light look around with the tank dark. Saw some pods floating around, saw feeding tents from the corals and saw my cleaner shrimp. Nothing new other than something all white about the size of my whole thumb moving around on the sand. My first thought was oh crap I got something new I missed. Mind you that all the rocks in the tank are over 2 years established. So I got into a better position with the flash light and spot lit the little bugger. It was a mantis shrimp that has just molted! About 1 1/2 " But before I could think of a way to scoop it out the cleaner seeing the spot light on it swooped in like a hawk and snatched it. Now the cleaner shrimp is maybe 1/2 larger but with the mantis fresh soft shell the cleaner was tearing it apart like crazy. The mantis didn't even have a chance. It took only about 5 secs for the mantis to stop moving. And before I could grab the camera the cleaner took it back down inbetween the rocks to finish the feast.

Man I know my cleaner shrimp is very agressive during feeding times but this thing looked evil by the way it handled. I love it!

 

[markzfishn1]

That sound like a cool thing to see. Was that the first time you knew about the mantis being in there after 2 years? I've had 2 fish disappear recently without ever looking the slightest bit sick. I was suspecting my BTA because I've never heard any clicks or seen any sign of a mantis for 3 years, but if you didn't know about yours for 2?!?!?

 

[busterb]

Yep.. This is after two tank moves too. This sucker must really be a great escape hiding artist. A mantis ninja so to say. I never saw it till then and you know how we reefers will stare at the tanks day and night. I'm guess its just been growing eversince it got the rocks. But what makes it even odder is that I got the rocks from a 2 year old tank ! So thats 4 years of this rock running in a tank.

I see the left over body now and gonna scoop it out. It looks to be around 1 1/2 in size. I'll post the pics when I get him out.