lost my first tank mate due to "life"

[reef tank 2.0]

I purchased a small, very small, red banded pistol shrimp this weekend. Had him in the DT and he met up with my randalls goby pretty quick. so i thought to myself, awesome!

then, enter stage left Red Serpent Sea Star. He tried grabbing the shrimp but the shrimp was dancing around, not allowing it. this went on for about 10 seconds, before I shooed the shrimp out of the serpents cave. got the shrimp out of there, and i saw the serpent's legs extend out of the back of cave, feeling around for the shrimp.

I figured I can't go on babysitting this shrimp, i'd go insane. SO i left it alone and let nature take it's course. That hurt to watch.

I had a feeling something might happen to him, he was very very small. but still hoped for the best. next time i will have to get a much larger one.

all part of the hobby, right?

 

[albano]

next time i will have to get a much larger one...

all part of the hobby, right?

If your star fish likes to eat shrimp, why would you add another?

 

[reef tank 2.0]

I already have two peppermint shrimps in the tank that are much bigger than the pistol one I got.
I was assuming it was due to size. I've never seen the starfish go after the shrimp i currently have.

 

[Sk8r]

THe demised shrimp was ground-dwelling. Peps aren't. Easy target. Plus as pistol shrimp get bigger THEY can become a problem. Mine killed several fish including his partner before I unbuilt my reef to get him out.

 

[reef tank 2.0]

oh wow.....Always thought the pistol shrimp was peaceful.
I guess with anything, there are always exceptions to the rule

 

[schnebbles]

I'm seriously thinking my pistol has killed as well. No proof except 3 missing gobies. Or, is that proof enough??

 

[xCry0x]

IDK I have had a pistol goby combo for years. If they are living together and the goby disappears I would probably assume that the goby died and the shrimp ate it rather that the shrimp decided one night to murder the goby in its sleep.

What I find the most funny with the goby + shrimp combo is that they go completely MIA.

Just this week I thought for sure my goby died. I hadn't seen either for a while -- my fighting conch plowed down the main hole they live out of and the hole had been covered for 3-4 days.

Then randomly today -- there is the goby and shrimp hanging out like normal.

 

[koz99gst]

My pistol shrimp killed my starry blenny

 

[Sk8r]

Mine got the YWG and two firefish ---telltale red mark in same place on side, death probably from internal bleeding/organ damage. REmoved shrimp, no more deaths with red spot.

 

[Fiver]

I love my YWG and pistol shrimp. No casualties so far.

My brittle star can be voracious, and ate a whole toadstool coral once while I was on vacation. It never did bother my peppermint shrimp, though. My tank is arranged so that most of the rock is one one side and a deeper sand bed (and my YWG and shrimp) is on the opposite, so it never ventures over there.

 

[albano]

My brittle star can be voracious, and ate a whole toadstool coral once while I was on vacation. It never did bother my peppermint shrimp, though. My tank is arranged so that most of the rock is one one side and a deeper sand bed (and my YWG and shrimp) is on the opposite, so it never ventures over there.

I think that if you watch the tank after lights out, you'll see the starfish has no boundaries!

Are you sure that starfish ate toadstool?