I got a bta today and fed him a silverside. My cleaner shrimp stole it! So I gave it back to my bta and kept the shrimp away using a net. After 30 minutes of holding this darn thing I just let the shrimp go. So it went right back to the silverside and started eating it again. I have two questions...1) why isn't the shrimp getting stung? 2) is this a normal occurrence?
Shrimp stealing my bta food
- Thread starter Tracy415
- Start date
ssgtgonzo
Entacmaea Enthusiast
1) there may be several reasons. If the nem is weak, it may not have the energy to expend firing it's nemotocysts, or they haven't been regenerated from when they were fired previously. Though I have had peppermint shrimp pick food from a healthy bta without suffering ill effect.
2) definitely normal. Try using a 2 liter with the bottom cut out and holes drilled for flow...that should allow the bta to eat in peace.
2) definitely normal. Try using a 2 liter with the bottom cut out and holes drilled for flow...that should allow the bta to eat in peace.
bugs713
In-A-Gadda-Divita!
Don't know why they don't get stung other than they do not have scales/skin as a fish does, but then again, why don't clowns get stung?
I feed my Cleaner Shrimp (aka Cleaner Thieves) each a chunk of raw shrimp BEFORE I feed the RBTA's. This keeps them plenty busy while the RBTA's get their food in mouth and swallowed up. Also, I only feed maybe twice per month and only feed raw table shrimp; heard too many bad things about feeding silver siders.
Good luck!
I feed my Cleaner Shrimp (aka Cleaner Thieves) each a chunk of raw shrimp BEFORE I feed the RBTA's. This keeps them plenty busy while the RBTA's get their food in mouth and swallowed up. Also, I only feed maybe twice per month and only feed raw table shrimp; heard too many bad things about feeding silver siders.
Good luck!
+1 on feeding first... I have 4 peppermints... they love to walk right in and take out of the mouth of the anemone.
Yes hard shell compared to fish.. and Clowns produce a slime...
Ever watch a clown get aclimated to a anemone... They dont just jump in... I watch one of mine lay against the anemone for a few seconds then run off. They have all left this one anemone alone for a while and now they suddenly notice it after already hosting another one.
They just want it all... hahaha
Yes hard shell compared to fish.. and Clowns produce a slime...
Ever watch a clown get aclimated to a anemone... They dont just jump in... I watch one of mine lay against the anemone for a few seconds then run off. They have all left this one anemone alone for a while and now they suddenly notice it after already hosting another one.
They just want it all... hahaha
bugs713
In-A-Gadda-Divita!
Very true! I never really noticed this until you said it... I had two RBTA's and three oc clowns, added a third RBTA and they all did as you stated. Took them a good month to hang with the new RBTA, now everyone visits each, but have their own specific they will sleep in when light out.
One thing I have learned about clowns, they always have some reason for the weird things they do... haha
phender
Active member
Exactly the reason I don't have cleaner shrimp in my anemone tanks. I have had them reach into the anemones mouth and pull food out of the anemone's stomach 2 hours after the anemone was fed.
That only had to happen once before that shrimp was gone and I have never had another.
That only had to happen once before that shrimp was gone and I have never had another.
I dont feed mine all the time. In the wild they get everything from dead fish to the scraps from a shark.
They end up getting all sorts of things just dropped on their tentacles. And even the occasional live fish that swims in or runs from a larger fish.
I feed mine Scallops, shrimp, and flounder. I like to watch them pull it in and devour it. I have one that will not eat anything and it has been doing very good with filtering the water. Im sure it gets something from the clown that hosts it or even some mysis that fall down to it.
They end up getting all sorts of things just dropped on their tentacles. And even the occasional live fish that swims in or runs from a larger fish.
I feed mine Scallops, shrimp, and flounder. I like to watch them pull it in and devour it. I have one that will not eat anything and it has been doing very good with filtering the water. Im sure it gets something from the clown that hosts it or even some mysis that fall down to it.
OrionN
Moved on
I don't like shrimp in my tank either. They kill all my Stomatella snails and steel food from corals and anemones. I hardly use any snails other than Stomatella and some Mexican turbo. Bothe of these species breed in the tank and the population adjust according to the need in the tank (at least in my tank)
If your anemone take 30 min to eat, he is likely not well. Try not to feed as often and try to use smaller pieces. Remover the cleaner shrimp if you don't have any disease in your tank.
If your anemone take 30 min to eat, he is likely not well. Try not to feed as often and try to use smaller pieces. Remover the cleaner shrimp if you don't have any disease in your tank.
