pick-pocket shrimp help

[HBtank]

Have observed both my cleaner shrimp and peppermints reaching into my anenome and open brain and stealing their food.

I know how to distract them initially, but now I have seen them reach inside and pull out food hours after feeding either.

Anyone observed this before and have a solution?

I am hoping my clowns will host and protect the anenome... Would they at night?

[jer77]

My four of my anemones all eat their food within a minute of feeding them. And if they didn't my clownfish would harrass anything that came close, even at night. As for the brain you can try covering it with something like a glass maybe while it feeds.

[Sk8r]

Why did I know when you said 'pick-pocket' that the victim was going to be an anemone? Poor things. Everything does it to them, but clowns nesting therein will defend them and bring food back to their anemone, when they find it, so your need to specifically feed it will diminish. What's going to protect the poor brain, who knows? Maybe you could attract the shrimp with a broken up scatter of flake before giving the brain his treat?

[HBtank]

Originally posted by jer77
My four of my anemones all eat their food within a minute of feeding them. And if they didn't my clownfish would harrass anything that came close, even at night. As for the brain you can try covering it with something like a glass maybe while it feeds.

mine eats in a minute as well.

But my peppermint is one smart shrimp. It waits until dark (or even before) and teases the anenome to close up, and once it can sit on the edge and reach the mouth it REACHES ALL THE WAY into the gut and pulls out a dinner snack.

THis is hours after feeding.

During feeding I distract them and I am used to this interference.

THe cleaners are not as bad, but they are now pestering him after the peppermint did this.

[HBtank]

Originally posted by Sk8r
Why did I know when you said 'pick-pocket' that the victim was going to be an anemone? Poor things. Everything does it to them, but clowns nesting therein will defend them and bring food back to their anemone, when they find it, so your need to specifically feed it will diminish. What's going to protect the poor brain, who knows? Maybe you could attract the shrimp with a broken up scatter of flake before giving the brain his treat?

Have been trying to distract while feeding, and I have not seen the really bad stealing from the brain like with the anenome, just if food is still outside the mouth. But after watching the peppermint and the anenome it makes me wonder what they have been up too...


I'm thinking I might get a gel cube holder and use it at night for a long term feeding area on the days I feed the brain and anenome. At least the gel cube will foul the water less and I can remove it in the morning..

[ERICinFL]

Put an extra piece(s) of they same food you give the brain and anenome in the tank at the same time. That should keep the "thieves" busy and fill their bellies so they won't steal the other food.

[HBtank]

Originally posted by ERICinFL
Put an extra piece(s) of they same food you give the brain and anenome in the tank at the same time. That should keep the "thieves" busy and fill their bellies so they won't steal the other food.

I did this, but it seems they look at him as an all night diner and snack hours after I feed.

One peppermint in particular is the real bad thief.

I am worried because the other shrimp seem to be learning by "monkey see, monkey do".

Man I want my clowns to host. My anenome needs a couple bouncers!

[So Cal shaggy]

how big are your anemone and brain? What I used to do after feeding was cover my brain with an old gatorade bottle with the bottom cut off and holes drilled all over it to allow water to circulate I also do this when I frag mushrooms until they re-attach to rocks.