Peppermint Shrimp is a MENACE!

[SaltWaterAdam]

ok... So, I've only got a Domino Damsel and a Peppermint shrimp in my tank currently... 12 hours ago everything was peachy, I stroll by my tank and what do I find, my Damsel has a SHREDDED tail... pictures don't do it justice...What the heck, I thought Peppermints were friendly... He's on my last nerve right now...

 

[SaltWaterAdam]

Have you seen this before?

 

[RAG_83]

I had 5 on my 75 gallon and they never bothered anyone in the tank

 

[humaguy]

sure there isn't a crab in the tank?

 

[Rea17]

It looks like there is some white mucous-like substance on his dorsal, or is that just the picture/something on the glass? While peppermint shrimp cause problems with coral sometimes, I've never heard of one attacking a fish.

 

[SaltWaterAdam]

It looks like there is some white mucous-like substance on his dorsal, or is that just the picture/something on the glass? While peppermint shrimp cause problems with coral sometimes, I've never heard of one attacking a fish.

He does have some stuff coming off his dorsal... Looks like dead skin almost.

 

[SaltWaterAdam]

sure there isn't a crab in the tank?

Definitely no crab. The damsel was actually in the live rock and has been roughing it out while my tank cycled.

 

[SaltWaterAdam]

sure there isn't a crab in the tank?

What's even weirder is I started 3 days ago with 2 peppermint shrimp and now am down to one... No idea where #1 went. Now this damsel with a shredded tail. No clue what's going on... Bizzare happenings in this household!

 

[albano]

This doesn't sound right to me, either... Damsel should be too fast for shrimp to catch/damage

 

[SaltWaterAdam]

This doesn't sound right to me, either... Damsel should be too fast for shrimp to catch/damage

Right?!?! That's exactly what I thought. It's a whodunit!! :fun5:

 

[xrayjeeper83]

Have you put any new LR or large corals that maybe something could have come in on?

 

[SaltWaterAdam]

Have you put any new LR or large corals that maybe something could have come in on?

Nope. Started the tank with live lock...which had the damsel in it ironically. Went and bought 2 peppermint shrimp and 3 nassarius snails. All snails are doing good and the larger of the 2 peppermint shrimp is still doing well. The littler of the shrimp I thought was a victim to the damsel, but now I'm thinking it might have been lunch for the other shrimp... I'm at a loss for what's going on...lol...interesting to say the least!

 

[ltkenbo]

So the damsel was hiding in the live rock? Lol

 

[SaltWaterAdam]

So the damsel was hiding in the live rock? Lol

Haha, ya... Go figure. He was getting booted out of the tank come time for "nice" fish, but jeez, didn't think he was gonna get mauled on the way out. Lol.

 

[sanababit]

I really doubt the shrimp got your fish, that said, look into some kind of bacterial disease or fungus, maybe another predator like a crab or mantis shrimp

Sana

 

[webersp]

Maybe you had some other hitchhikers on the live rock that you didn't know about?

 

[Whiterabbitrage]

You could sneak a peek at the tank just after lights out. Use a red light. Maybe see if the Pep does anything while the Damsel is asleep?

 

[Rea17]

+1 look into illness. Ragged fins and excess mucous aren't to be blamed on a hitchhiker just yet. That said... It's possible the shrimp died because the tank is new. Check water quality and get back to us.

 

[SaltWaterAdam]

+1 look into illness. Ragged fins and excess mucous aren't to be blamed on a hitchhiker just yet. That said... It's possible the shrimp died because the tank is new. Check water quality and get back to us.

Water quality is good. pH 8.1, salinity 1.025, nitrate, ammonia, nitrite all undetectable, temp 77. I'm thinking fin rot now. What treatments work?

You could sneak a peek at the tank just after lights out. Use a red light. Maybe see if the Pep does anything while the Damsel is asleep?

Did that last night, nothing weird, damsel chilling at the bottom, shrimp chilling in his hole. I think I jumped the gun blaming the shrimp. I'm thinking tail rot now...

 

[humaguy]

mucus, like excess slime?
can you post a new pic?