Peppermint shrimp attacking my tube anemone

[scolley]

A local reefer gave me a lovely tube anemone yesterday. I acclimated it then buried it under a few of inches of sand, with what appeared to be the head end near the surface. Within the hour it was poking the tips of its pink tentacles out. Not the feeding tentacles - those are neon green. And to my surprise those tentacles were attacked!

By what you might ask? By none other than my aptasia anemone killer: a peppermint shrimp.

I watched it play out several times. The shrimp would find a nearby perch, and just wait for the tip of a pink tentacle to emerge - and it would pounce. In fact one time the posterior end of the worm emerged (a black round ended tube) and the shrimp pounced on that. Clawed it, and then retreated a distance and ate whatever it had in its claw. So it looks like it got a small piece.

I put some PE mysis in the tank hoping to distract the shrimp. Why wait for a worm to pop up when you can have more mysis than you can eat now? But this shrimp dropped its mysis and attached to tube anemone the next time it tried to pop out. Clearly there is a strong predatory preference for anemone like things.

Is it possible that the anemone is vulnerable to such until it gets its tentacles fully out, instead of just tips emerging? If so, since the peppermints hide in the daytime, it should have a chance to come out today. It's hiding now, but maybe I'll see it later today...

Anyone else have any experience with this?

I must admit that having this animal threatened by something already in my tank was that last thing I expected.


PS - Apologies if this is the wrong forum, as these are not really true anemones. Seemed like the best place.

 

[scolley]

Bump.

Has no one heard of this phenomenon? That darn shrimp is stalking the tube right now...

 

[Toddrtrex]

Remove the shrimp, it isn't going to get better. I personally don't trust peppermint shrimps with any anemone -- have seen them go after S. haddoni, which have incredible sting and stickiness.

 

[scolley]

Thanks. I'm not opposed to removing the shrimp... Just don't know if I can.

What I'm wondering is if I can't remove the shrimp, do I have to remove the tube anemone? And if so, how long do I have to capture the shrimp before it gradually harrasses/nibbles the nem to death?

 

[Rippinfrags]

I would get it out ASAP. I was able to catch both of my shrimp in less than ten minutes by using the 2 liter bottle fish trap, just put a good size piece of fresh shrimp in the bottle and you will catch that little thief. Good luck.

 

[scolley]

Got one of those ready to go, if a bit smaller than 2L. Will give it a shot. Thanks.

 

[scolley]

Bit of an update...

I was unsuccessful at extracting the shrimp. I also have serpent stars, which complicate any activity involving placing food in the tank. At any rate, the two peppermint shrimp remain. However, several days later now, the tube anenome is fine. In fact, it's flourishing - well extended, tentacles long, mouth open.

From my observation my original question appears to have been a good one... Asking about the possibility that these animals are vulnerable before they have a chance to fully extend. Because now - fully extended - nothing will go near it, peppermint shrimp included.

So I've got to ask - does anyone have actual FIRST HAND experience with peppermints doing long term damage to these animals?

My single, short term experience seems to make that look unlikely. Peppermints may have a well deserved bad rap due to their interactions with other animals. But from what I can see, after a tube anemone has a chance to settle, peppermints pose no threat.

Please post contrary information if you have it first hand.

Thanks.

 

[rattler_mt]

the 2 peppermint shrimp in my tank leave my tube anemone alone.....thinking back that was a bit surprising as i lucked out and they are aptasia lovers.....but they leave it alone other than they show up when i spot feed it to catch the stuff that the TA misses....

 

[scolley]

Four months later...

My tube anemone is one happy worm. :thumbsup:

Whatever was going one between it and my peppermints was short lived, and apparently related to its vulnerable status before it settled in. Now I NEVER see the peppermints anywhere near it.

IMO there is NO long term conflict between keeping the two animals in the same tank.

Thanks for the help.