DARN Shrimp and my BTA

[rodstar]

So, I have a BTA that has been looking worse and worse, even though I feed him regularly and all my params are okay. I did have a temp issue (up to 84) and have resolved that.

What I have learned in the last few days is troubling. Whenever I feed my BTA (krill), he gladly takes it and I leave. But I stuck around and noticed after a few minutes that my cleaner shrimp or peppermint shrimp will scurry up after a few minutes and steal the food!!!!

I tried to keep them away last night with my turkey baster and I fed them their own pieces. But, a half hour later, bam, they got the food again.

Anyone have any suggestions? I can't hang at the tank for an hour and keep him safe...

 

[raoul]

There's a couple things you can try, depending on the size of your bta. The first it to cover it with something after you feed it. Usually strawberry baskets make good covers, but in this case the pesky shrimp can still get through those. I would find something that's big enough but with small enough holes that water can pass through, but not shrimp.

My peps only venture out at night (so far - but I've had others that ruled the tank) and I have a suspicion that one tried to steal food from my crispa. I would normally feed right before bedtime, but I've started feeding earlier in the day to give the nems a head start on digesting before lights go off and the trouble makers come out.

Your third option is to remove the shrimp. I'm assuming with a 14g you don't have a sump you could place them for the time being. But there's usually someone in the area that will take them, or LFS will sometimes trade.

Anyway, these are the only things I can think of right now - good luck!

 

[cschweitzer]

A small colinder(like the ones for spagetti, but not used) could work, or one of those breeder baskets turned upside down over him, or a fish net over a strawberry basket. A hundred ways to keep it safe after feeding...you can use any of these or make up your own...

 

[MikeD]

Sigh... maybe one day, that bta will grow up... and eat the shrimp.

 

[boyooso]

get rid of the shrimp before it causes he bta too much harm, or get rid of the bta so the shrimp don't hurt it...

 

[Toddrtrex]

Re: DARN Shrimp and my BTA

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9512946#post9512946 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rodstar

Anyone have any suggestions? I can't hang at the tank for an hour and keep him safe...

This is the part that really concerns me, there is no way that a
healthy BTA would take that long to eat. Mine never take more than
a minute.
A list of you water parms would help too, "okay" really doesn't
provide a lot of details.

 

[Lahn Doe]

I moved my cleaner shrimp and the bta is so much happier with it gone.

 

[rodstar]

Toddrtrex,

The length of time it took him to eat bothered me too. But, he is doing better now with smaller pieces and I switched to silversides for him. I think the hour was probably over stating it a bit, but even when the piece was no longer visible, the shrimp would go in and somehow dig it out.

I think I may have resolved most of my issue at this point. I have taught the shrimp to eat right out of my hand and no tbe afraid of me. So, I feed them each a larger piece of shrimp and then immediately give a piece of silverside to the bta who takes that in very quickly.

I am feeding the bta every other day now and he seems to be a little better.

As far as my params go:
Temp: 79-81
SG: 1.026
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrates: 10
Calcium: 450
Phosphate: 2 (?)

Phosphates are high and I have been gettign some cyano because of it, but I recently traced this to the water I was using. I was using premixed salt water from Catalina and it had high phosphates in it, so I am mixing my own and that seems to help. Will remeasure everything again on Sunday.

Thank you all for your help and advice!!!