Whodunnit?

[Knowleman]

Woke up to a dead partially eaten cleaner shrimp this morning (one of
three). It looks like it had been in the process of shedding. All of
the fish have an innocent "Who me?" look about them - i.e. none of
them paying the "remains" any attention.

So, was it murder or natural causes?

ANALYSIS OF SUSPECTS:

Percula clowns (x2)
- Unlikely: No time for anything but the love affair each other and
their anenome

African pigmy angel
- Unlikely: Can be a bit impatient with other fish but has been seen
being cleaned by the shrimps (could be a clever cover I suppose!)

4 spot yellow wrasse
- Unlikely: Like clockwork, he goes to bed under the sand at 6:45pm
and wakes up again when the lights come on at 7am

Little pink scooter blenny
- Nothing this cute could be associated with such a crime

Long nosed hawkfish
- Prime suspect: Has been seen "observing", some might say even
"stalking", the shrimps. Also, she is the latest addition to the tank
and has been gaining a lot more confidence.

Other than that, just a range of corels in the tank.

Opinions?

Can shedding sometimes go wrong leading to self destruction?
Are shrimps more vulnerable during shedding?
Could there be something lurking in the live rock that we don't know
about?

[Toni]

"Knowleman" > wrote in message
om...
> Woke up to a dead partially eaten cleaner shrimp this morning (one of
> three). It looks like it had been in the process of shedding. All of
> the fish have an innocent "Who me?" look about them - i.e. none of
> them paying the "remains" any attention.
>
> So, was it murder or natural causes?
>
> ANALYSIS OF SUSPECTS:
>
> Long nosed hawkfish
> - Prime suspect: Has been seen "observing", some might say even
> "stalking", the shrimps. Also, she is the latest addition to the tank
> and has been gaining a lot more confidence.
>



Shrimp are a normal part of a Hawkfish diet.
I just put one in (a Flame) precisely to get rid of my shrimp.

No contest here, IMO.

--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/reef.htm

[Marc Levenson]

I suppose the Longnosed Hawkfish could have done it, but
mine never bothered any kind of shrimp in my tank.

Yes, they are definitely vulnerable for about 6(?) hours
while their exoskeleton hardens after molting.

You might have a different creature in your rockwork, such
as a gorilla crab or a mantis shrimp. Both would be willing
to kill your cleaner shrimp if given the opporunity.

Marc


Knowleman wrote:

> Woke up to a dead partially eaten cleaner shrimp this morning (one of
> three). It looks like it had been in the process of shedding. All of
> the fish have an innocent "Who me?" look about them - i.e. none of
> them paying the "remains" any attention.
>
> So, was it murder or natural causes?
>
> ANALYSIS OF SUSPECTS:
>
> Percula clowns (x2)
> - Unlikely: No time for anything but the love affair each other and
> their anenome
>
> African pigmy angel
> - Unlikely: Can be a bit impatient with other fish but has been seen
> being cleaned by the shrimps (could be a clever cover I suppose!)
>
> 4 spot yellow wrasse
> - Unlikely: Like clockwork, he goes to bed under the sand at 6:45pm
> and wakes up again when the lights come on at 7am
>
> Little pink scooter blenny
> - Nothing this cute could be associated with such a crime
>
> Long nosed hawkfish
> - Prime suspect: Has been seen "observing", some might say even
> "stalking", the shrimps. Also, she is the latest addition to the tank
> and has been gaining a lot more confidence.
>
> Other than that, just a range of corels in the tank.
>
> Opinions?
>
> Can shedding sometimes go wrong leading to self destruction?
> Are shrimps more vulnerable during shedding?
> Could there be something lurking in the live rock that we don't know
> about?

--
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