AHH Killer Nassarius ;(

[Dreef13]

Well went to the fish store and bought myself a rather small cleaner shrimp and within 5 minutes my Nassarius snails killed my cleaner shrimp ;( has anyone else heard of this?

[ErikH]

Did you acclimate the shrimp? Normally a nassarius will only go after dead things...

[Europhyllia]

never heard of this. how long did you take to acclimate the shrimp? They can be sensitive to parameter changes. My guess is shrimp died and nassarius ate it once it was already down. a shrimp is so fast. it could easily get away from the snail

[Mike]

+1 to that thought... possible the shrimp dead/dying before snail went after it. We did have a dying fish that the snails went after (before it was dead- it was a jumper that we found and put back in, but although breathing never really recovered.)

[jrnannery]

Is it in anyway possible that the snail got a molt? Benefit of the doubt, of course, but check in dark holes and under overhangs in your live rock. That shrimp could have molted and the snail was dutifully cleaning up the shell?

They really can't handle temperature or salinity changes too well, though, as stated above. Sorry, or good luck, whichever applies

[Reefer4ever]

I had my two nassarius snails eat my rather large coral banded shrimp while he was molting :(

[ShAgMaN]

I had an issue were my harlequin shrimp was feed a star overnight and the next day he was surrounded/swarmed by nassarius and eventually died the following day. Haven't trusted them since.

[kkiel02]

never heard of this. how long did you take to acclimate the shrimp? They can be sensitive to parameter changes. My guess is shrimp died and nassarius ate it once it was already down. a shrimp is so fast. it could easily get away from the snail

+1 I doubt a snail would be able to keep up with a shrimp. Although Nassarius are fast for snails the shrimp should have easily outran it with one flick of its tail.

[ShAgMaN]

+1 I doubt a snail would be able to keep up with a shrimp. Although Nassarius are fast for snails the shrimp should have easily outran it with one flick of its tail.

-2 I witnessed first hand my harlequin shrimp pinned down by numerous Nassarius, and when I pulled them off the shrimp, he was still alive but his tail was jacked up and he died the next day.

I had this shrimp for months (he destroyed my astrenia prob.)....so here's my hypothesis.

The shrimp was hungry and so involved in his meal (starfish I feed him that night), the snails were able to sneak up and ambush the shrimp. Harley probably wasn't too concerned with the snails at first, but then became overwhelmed and lost the battle he didn't even see was coming.

I'm calling Myth Busters!

[Dreef13]

I took about an hour to acclimate the shrimp... I worked at a pet store back home for 4 years and never ever heard of this...I saw him go in the corner he was fine.. i grabbed a bite to eat in the kitchen and then i saw two of them on him..i got em off..he was fine an then i watched football for 5 mins and they had him pinned down and sucked the life out of him....now my only thing i can think of is it was a small shrimp but then again i was shocked!!

[ShAgMaN]

These stories are good, if anything aquarists might think twice about loading their tank with these guys...or take the chance and know your livestock well. I for 1 don't trust them, and only keep a handful in my tank. I believe the slower/docile inverts are much more susceptible...

This dosent include pepermint shrimp, who hold their own big time.

[Europhyllia]

so what Nassarius type was it? Tonga or Caribbean?

[kkiel02]

These stories are good, if anything aquarists might think twice about loading their tank with these guys...or take the chance and know your livestock well. I for 1 don't trust them, and only keep a handful in my tank. I believe the slower/docile inverts are much more susceptible...

This dosent include pepermint shrimp, who hold their own big time.

I think if the snails could devour a cleaner or coral banded shrimp the peps should be quick work as well.

I have never owned a coral banded(I know they are considered one of the most aggressive, thats why I never purchased one) :) or harlequin but have kept fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp and peppermint shrimp with nassarius with no problems. Although mine werent the huge tonga ones, just the caribbean ones. They are fast little snails though. Plus I have heard of weird stories like a coral banded eating fish etc. so who knows with nature.

[ShAgMaN]

I think if the snails could devour a cleaner or coral banded shrimp the peps should be quick work as well.

I have never owned a coral banded(I know they are considered one of the most aggressive, thats why I never purchased one) :) or harlequin but have kept fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp and peppermint shrimp with nassarius with no problems. Although mine werent the huge tonga ones, just the caribbean ones. They are fast little snails though. Plus I have heard of weird stories like a coral banded eating fish etc. so who knows with nature.

I don't know why but my peps are survivors - I've had a pair for years - course they only come out at night.

One species I've never been able to keep are cleaners, they are gone in a week from who knows what?

[BSJF]

I have cleaners, pepps, and nassarius :) The shrimp are big now, but were smaller in the beginning.

In the past, I have had several fish help themselves to my shrimp.

[Europhyllia]

I think there might be a big difference between what the two different Nassarius species can do. The Tongans are so big and strong I could see them (in theory) wrestle down another critter. The Caribbeans: not really.
I don't think it's necessary to have the Tongans. Even a bunch of small ones can manage a lot of leftover food without really having the individual strength of the Tongans.
I'd say if the Nassarius concern you just go with the Caribbeans

[alton]

Off subject just a little but I had a Neon Dotty Back that would just pluck the eyes off of my cleaner shrimp. It took me 3 cleaner shrimp before I saw/caught him do it.

[Europhyllia]

ewww. that's horrific!