Peppermint shrimp keeps carrying off my goby

Ben34105 · 12/09/2009, 10:47 PM

I have a Fluval Edge that I will be putting 2 seahorses in. Right now it just has a small goby (1.5"), a peppermint shrimp and a purple firefish while I wait for my LFS to find the seahorses. All the fish seem healthy and are eating well.

Every now and then I'll look over and my peppermint shrimp is trying to drag my goby around. It will drag it a few inches then the goby will easily escape.

What is my shrimp trying to do? Are they a fish cleaner like my cleaner shrimp or have they been watching too much TV and taking after Tiger Woods?

Sisterlimonpot · 12/10/2009, 12:25 AM

That's funny I would like to see a video of that. It may be that they are fighting over territory. Or at least the shrimp is.

terri_ann · 12/10/2009, 03:59 AM

They aren't a cleaner shrimp. They are carnivores. It may be a territorial thing. Are they hungry? I would watch closely. Are you planning on putting the seahorses in with the shrimp and goby?!

Ben34105 · 12/10/2009, 09:18 AM

I'll try to get a video of the two, but it may take awhile. The whole thing only lasts a few seconds.

I feed the tank frozen mysis everyday. The shrimp has molted twice in 3 weeks so I can't imagine he's hungry. I'll put a little extra food in for the next few days and see if they stop.

My LFS told me it's okay to keep small gobies and a shrimp with the seahorse. If they pick on the SH I'll put them in my main tank.

Sisterlimonpot · 12/10/2009, 09:40 AM

If you can get a video that would be great. I don't think that the shrimp is hungry if he's molting that quickly. just keep an eye out, I would tend to believe that once they realize they have to live together things will stop.

Elysia · 12/10/2009, 04:30 PM

I'd watch a firefish in an open-top tank. I **had** a firefish for over 2 1/2 years in an Aquapod that I kept the small feeding door on open 24/7, and had no problems for 2 1/2 years until the one day that the firefish jumped... I so wasn't expecting the jump that I actually stepped on my firefish and killed it. It was horrible. I wouldn't want you to go through the same thing.

bertoni · 12/10/2009, 07:29 PM

My peppermint shrimp did some cleaning. That might be what's going on. Hard to say.

NigerBang · 12/10/2009, 07:31 PM

I would like to see that..

singold · 12/10/2009, 10:55 PM

The Goby probably views it as an arbitrary shrimp cleaning (since not knowing that the peppermint shrimp is not a cleaning shrimp), thus not annoyed. The Shrimp probably views it as rearranging things in its immediate territory.

peasofme · 12/15/2009, 12:24 PM

why does every store list them as cleaner shrimp then?

NaClCrocodile · 12/15/2009, 12:44 PM

That's a good question. Maybe they mean that the shrim cleans the tank, which they do.

peasofme · 12/15/2009, 12:45 PM

nope, they all say they clean fish

spw4949 · 12/15/2009, 01:00 PM

I wouldn't put a pep in with seahorses, they are aggressive eaters & will outcompete & freak out the seahorses at feeding time, that's a bad combo IMO.....

Chiefsurfer · 12/15/2009, 05:02 PM

video of this yet ben? I saw this up again, and immediately thought there was a video, and I got SOOOOOOOO excited to see this in action. Then realized, no video.

bertoni · 12/15/2009, 05:49 PM

Yep, they clean fish, basically removing any parasites or dead tissue they can get.

Demonic · 12/16/2009, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spw4949

I wouldn't put a pep in with seahorses, they are aggressive eaters & will outcompete & freak out the seahorses at feeding time, that's a bad combo IMO.....

LOL, really. They are not aggressive eaters. Its really a scavenger in a sense. Feeds what it can off the bottom of the tank. I have never seen a seahorse feed off the sand bed.

Juruense · 12/16/2009, 08:41 AM

The Fluval Edge is a fresh water setup? How are you getting it to work with salt? Do you have it connected to a larger system? Why do you think you can have all those animals in a 6 gallon tank?

Ben34105 · 12/16/2009, 08:47 AM

No video yet. They are quick enough that I can't grab my camcorder in time. I might have to set it up to run continuously.

I've had it set up for about a month now and I've not had an issue with anything. I test the water weekly and the levels have always been acceptable. The only change to the filter I made was putting a piece of 100 micron filter between the sponge and carbon. I'll take a pic and post it real quick so you guys can see how I have it set up.

Juruense · 12/16/2009, 08:52 AM

The Fluval Edge is so awesome I was planning on doing one with Tetras and live plants but the idea of salt in one is intriguing.... Looking forward to the pics.

Ben34105 · 12/16/2009, 08:54 AM

Here's a few pics. I am working on putting a small cooling fan in the back below the pump. If you leave the lights on too long the tank will heat up.

As for the tank it has 10lbs of LS and 10lbs of LR. A few mushrooms and some various plants. I put a small hermit crab in it a few days ago to help take care of any extra food.

Ben34105 · 12/16/2009, 09:00 AM

The tank comes with 2 10w halogens. They are a little too yellow for my liking. I'm considering putting a few LEDs instead of the halogens. It should also help with keeping the heat down. There seems to be plenty of room to mount something on the light bar.

12/09/2009, 10:47 PM	#1
Ben34105 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 159	Peppermint shrimp keeps carrying off my goby I have a Fluval Edge that I will be putting 2 seahorses in. Right now it just has a small goby (1.5"), a peppermint shrimp and a purple firefish while I wait for my LFS to find the seahorses. All the fish seem healthy and are eating well. Every now and then I'll look over and my peppermint shrimp is trying to drag my goby around. It will drag it a few inches then the goby will easily escape. What is my shrimp trying to do? Are they a fish cleaner like my cleaner shrimp or have they been watching too much TV and taking after Tiger Woods?

12/10/2009, 12:25 AM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	That's funny I would like to see a video of that. It may be that they are fighting over territory. Or at least the shrimp is. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/10/2009, 03:59 AM	#3
terri_ann Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Marshalltown, IA Posts: 841	They aren't a cleaner shrimp. They are carnivores. It may be a territorial thing. Are they hungry? I would watch closely. Are you planning on putting the seahorses in with the shrimp and goby?! __________________ Happy Reefing!! :) Current Tank Info: 180g mixed 40B Anemone 5' raceway frag tank

12/10/2009, 09:40 AM	#5
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	If you can get a video that would be great. I don't think that the shrimp is hungry if he's molting that quickly. just keep an eye out, I would tend to believe that once they realize they have to live together things will stop. __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

12/10/2009, 07:29 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	My peppermint shrimp did some cleaning. That might be what's going on. Hard to say. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/10/2009, 09:18 AM	#4
Ben34105 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 159	I'll try to get a video of the two, but it may take awhile. The whole thing only lasts a few seconds. I feed the tank frozen mysis everyday. The shrimp has molted twice in 3 weeks so I can't imagine he's hungry. I'll put a little extra food in for the next few days and see if they stop. My LFS told me it's okay to keep small gobies and a shrimp with the seahorse. If they pick on the SH I'll put them in my main tank.

12/10/2009, 04:30 PM	#6
Elysia Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central PA Posts: 1,718	I'd watch a firefish in an open-top tank. I had a firefish for over 2 1/2 years in an Aquapod that I kept the small feeding door on open 24/7, and had no problems for 2 1/2 years until the one day that the firefish jumped... I so wasn't expecting the jump that I actually stepped on my firefish and killed it. It was horrible. I wouldn't want you to go through the same thing.

12/10/2009, 07:31 PM	#8
NigerBang Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Dallas, GA Posts: 54	I would like to see that..

12/10/2009, 10:55 PM	#9
singold Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Lake Saint Louis, Missouri Posts: 1,827	The Goby probably views it as an arbitrary shrimp cleaning (since not knowing that the peppermint shrimp is not a cleaning shrimp), thus not annoyed. The Shrimp probably views it as rearranging things in its immediate territory. __________________ "If there is no wind.....row." Current Tank Info: 75gal Reef w/29gal Refugium Last edited by singold; 12/10/2009 at 11:02 PM.

12/15/2009, 12:24 PM	#10
peasofme Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: usa Posts: 1,405	why does every store list them as cleaner shrimp then?

12/15/2009, 12:44 PM	#11
NaClCrocodile Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 400	That's a good question. Maybe they mean that the shrim cleans the tank, which they do.

12/15/2009, 12:45 PM	#12
peasofme Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: usa Posts: 1,405	nope, they all say they clean fish

12/15/2009, 01:00 PM	#13
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	I wouldn't put a pep in with seahorses, they are aggressive eaters & will outcompete & freak out the seahorses at feeding time, that's a bad combo IMO..... __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

12/15/2009, 05:02 PM	#14
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	video of this yet ben? I saw this up again, and immediately thought there was a video, and I got SOOOOOOOO excited to see this in action. Then realized, no video.

12/15/2009, 05:49 PM	#15
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Yep, they clean fish, basically removing any parasites or dead tissue they can get. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/16/2009, 08:41 AM	#17
Juruense Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,138	The Fluval Edge is a fresh water setup? How are you getting it to work with salt? Do you have it connected to a larger system? Why do you think you can have all those animals in a 6 gallon tank?

12/16/2009, 08:47 AM	#18
Ben34105 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 159	No video yet. They are quick enough that I can't grab my camcorder in time. I might have to set it up to run continuously. I've had it set up for about a month now and I've not had an issue with anything. I test the water weekly and the levels have always been acceptable. The only change to the filter I made was putting a piece of 100 micron filter between the sponge and carbon. I'll take a pic and post it real quick so you guys can see how I have it set up.

12/16/2009, 08:52 AM	#19
Juruense Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,138	The Fluval Edge is so awesome I was planning on doing one with Tetras and live plants but the idea of salt in one is intriguing.... Looking forward to the pics.

12/16/2009, 08:54 AM	#20
Ben34105 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 159	Here's a few pics. I am working on putting a small cooling fan in the back below the pump. If you leave the lights on too long the tank will heat up. As for the tank it has 10lbs of LS and 10lbs of LR. A few mushrooms and some various plants. I put a small hermit crab in it a few days ago to help take care of any extra food.

12/16/2009, 09:00 AM	#21
Ben34105 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 159	The tank comes with 2 10w halogens. They are a little too yellow for my liking. I'm considering putting a few LEDs instead of the halogens. It should also help with keeping the heat down. There seems to be plenty of room to mount something on the light bar.