Peppermint Shrimp keep disappearing!

[monkeysee1]

Hi again folks!
Just would like to know - anyone here have had a problem similar to this?
THREE TIMES I bought a small group of 4 or 5 Peppermint Shrimp and then within a few months they disappear!
I have NO nitrates, nitrites or ammonia in my water. pH is 8.2 and my alkalinity is about 9 dKH.
I have other inverts: 3 sea urchins, 1 Cocoa Worm, several Hermit Crabs, a Derasa Clam, a Fire Shrimp and several snails. All look good!
Have 11 fish! Including a Scopas Tang, Coral Beauty, Pakistani Butterfly, 2 Ocelleris clowns, and an Aiptasia Eater. Had them ALL for a while now and are doing great!
Weird! I can keep a LOT of inverts, it seems - except Peppermint Shrimp
Any thoughts???

 

[TangingOut]

Why not list all your fishes?

I have this same problem, but I'm pretty sure my malenaurus wrasse or flame hawk eats them when they're hungry enough.

 

[TangingOut]

If your "aiptaisa eater" is a matted filefish, that may be your culprit.

 

[monkeysee1]

Hi Tanging out!
Yeah - rounding out my 11 fish:
a Purple Wrasse (Cirrhilabrus rubrisquamis)
a Blue/Black Neon Dottyback,
a Royal Gramma and
2 Black Weber Chromis.

If your "aiptaisa eater" is a matted filefish,

Yeah! He IS!

So you think it could be the Wrasse? Or the AIP eater??
Hmmmm..... Interesting!
I thought they were peaceful! Lol! Maybe they're munching on the sly at night when I can't see them?

 

[TangingOut]

It's not your wrasse, but most likely the filefish. They are known to eat small inverts.

 

[monkeysee1]

Oh Boy!
Mystery solved.
I like him too: he's so graceful and peaceful - and innocent looking LOL- and has COMPLETELY wiped out my Aiptasia!
He's a member of the Trigger family, right?? If so that would make sense!
Guess they'll be no more Peppermints for me!
Thanks so much!