Thieving Cleaner Shrimp

[avshockey311]

My cleaner has decided to make my open brain home now. He hangs out in the brain all day which doesnt bother me or the brain it seems. Until feeding time, when I try to feed the brain it rarely get anything now due to the shimp cleaning it out. Is the any way to prevent this? I just hate to see the bain go hungry because it has its sweepers out all then time but cant ever get food.

 

[ERICinFL]

Cut the top off a 2 liter soda bottle and cover the coral with it. Just inject the food through the opening at the top. If your cleaner can get through the top, put the cap on.

 

[mleinart]

I have the same problem with a peppermint shrimp on my tubastrea. When I see him come out as I'm feeding, I let him grab a bit of food from the feeding pipette. If i dont, he walks all over the polyps grabbing food causing them to close before I'm finished feeding. I feel like I'm rewarding his bad behavior, but it does keep him away long enough for the polyps to eat.

 

[Ciarán]

Stuff him good before hand then use the pop bottle top or a strawberry crate etc. to block entry. If you give him morsels that are huge for him, he will plug away at them for ages in his place of shelter, giving the coral time to ingest and close up its polyps - he will come back out and be stuffed IME!

BTW i think shrimps love brains to walk all over. Every one ive ever had had loved brain corals, i have found their personal favourite is Platygyra Spp.!

 

[TWallace]

My cleaner shrimp do the same thing to my BTA. I just feed them first and they leave the BTA alone as I'm feeding.

 

[bklynmet]

yep, feed him first to keep him occupied...