Shrimp eating hitchhikers - help please

[angiegreenwell]

Well, for a tank that has next to nothing in it (apparently not) there has been a lot of drama.

I put peppermint shrimp in the tank to get rid of aiptasia. I came home today hoping to see them as they have been hiding - to find one being sucked into a rock by what I guess is a brittlestar. I'm totally creeped out.

Any thoughts on capturing this guy and getting him out of the display? We pulled out the latest victim shrimp and left him on the sand bed. At the moment the plan is to watch the tank with the lights off and if the brittlestar comes out, to scoop it up and put it in the fuge.

If anyone has a better idea, let me know. I would like to save the remaining shrimp if possible.

Thanks

 

[weaglereefer]

Possible the shrimp died? Inverts sometimes have trouble adjusting to new tanks.

Waiting is a good idea. If you have a flashlight that you can put a red filter on it will be easier to look at night without scaring the inverts.

Have you heard any clicking sounds?

 

[angiegreenwell]

I like the theory that the shrimp just died and the brittlestar got him. Given the place on the rock is very high up, it may be unlikely. I would have thought the shrimp would have floated to the bottom if it died by itself.

I have not yet heard a clicking sound. The tank has only had a few snails for just over a week and now a few shrimp for one day. Not a lot for a hitchhiker to eat. Are you thinking there is a pistol shrimp in the tank hiding?

Whether the brittlestar killed the shrimp or not, I am pretty sure there is a brittle star in the rock. I could see one of his legs wrap around the shrimp and my husband saw another leg sticking out the other side of the rock.

 

[Jaycen B.]

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman"><span style="font-size: 13px">We need a better description on said starfish, color, spines on the legs, etc. Is this a green brittle? Pics if you can get them.
They are mostly scavengers but some will eat whatever they can get.
</span></span>

 

[angiegreenwell]

I don't think it is the green brittle star. From what I remember it is a dark grey color, with spines but the spines were not long, they were very close to the legs and the legs were thin. I would not have expected it to be big from the size of the legs. I have two brittle stars in the fuge who are small and the legs looked similar but with no striping. it was solid in color. I'll see what happens tonight when lights go out and if I can get a better look. I did take a picture but I can't see the legs in it. Thanks for everyone's help!

 

[angiegreenwell]

After lights were out for a while I took a piece of raw shrimp and a red flashlight and put it over the brittle star's location. It and a few of its friends stuck their arms out and reached around. I never saw its body but I would guess its arms are only 2" long. Given what I saw, I don't think this guy is my creepy killer. I think the shrimp was already dead and somehow landed right on the spot of the brittle star.

Another piece of information that may or may not be relevant is that I saw a molting from one of the shrimp shortly after I put them in the tank. I thought it a bit odd. Perhaps it didn't adjust well to the new tank.