Whats eating my fire shrimps

[nukieuk]

Ok so I recently added two fire shrimps to my 90 gallon setup while i am building out my 180. Both now have vanished without a trace. I picked up a regular cleaner at the same time he is still doing fine. Not sure whats getting the fireshrimps!

Dont have anything in my tank that i know would prey on them.

Only scavengers of any size that could possibly take on a fire shrimp would be my brittle stars they are huge around 8 inches each and i have two. Ideas thoughts?

 

[smoothie]

They are sensitive unless you have the Chuck Norris shrimp.
I have seen 1) a green brittle take one out after molting and 2) a carnivorous conch do the same
Most likely they are hiding in your rock work. I didn't see mine for 3mo one time in the 180 at work. Fireshrimp went into hiding for 1mo in my 20 planted

 

[nukieuk]

They both would come out at feeding time and i have pretty good view of most of my tank. I dont have a wrasse so thats not the issue. Biggest fish in the 90 are a tomini tang and a yellow tang. No conches so the only thought i had was the brittlestars but I had not heard of them actually attacking live food. I will keep looking

 

[smoothie]

I feed everyday in the tank at work and the ones at the house. They have still hidden for whatever reason and then just reappear. Maybe after molting. Who knows. Check with the lights out too

 

[acroholic]

If you added in the last few days, they probably just molted and are hiding. I noticed when I add shrimp to my tanks, they immediately molt, then reappear after a few days.

If it has been three weeks, then you may have an issue, because my fire shrimp (got 4 of them between 3 reef tanks) are always lurking just under the rocks. Visible, but just barely.

 

[kirru]

I have one that only shows himself.. well when he feels like it. I know he is there but for you I'd be curious to know. if he just didn't find a hole or cave to chill out in..

 

[nukieuk]

Acroholic;461458 wrote: If you added in the last few days, they probably just molted and are hiding. I noticed when I add shrimp to my tanks, they immediately molt, then reappear after a few days.

If it has been three weeks, then you may have an issue, because my fire shrimp (got 4 of them between 3 reef tanks) are always lurking just under the rocks. Visible, but just barely.

Same here thats what is puzzling me first one vanished and now the other one has I have had them in the system about six weeks. When I break down the 90 to move it i am thinking of removing the stars as they are rather large.

 

[ga_daisy]

I would love to have a fire shrimp. I had one in my very first tank years ago.....but I have a mondo huge coral banded. He is beasty. And, though I knew the answer before I asked, I talked with Tim about it this past weekend. Yet another motivation to set up another system.:thumbs:

 

[dave green]

@Daisy Good call - those coral bandeds don't play nice all the time.