Peppermints attacking new anemone - help!

[cvonseggern]

I just put a flower anemone in the 100g tank tonight...it's my first anemone and I didn't expect what happened next. Literally as soon as it was in the tank, before I even had it settled on a rock shelf, my three peppermint shrimp were all over it. They keep picking at its tentacle area, even reaching their claws inside as it tries to close up. I'm afraid they're going to either kill it outright or stress it to death. I just spent 1/2 hour trying to catch the little b*stards, but of course that's nearly impossible. Two questions:

1. Are they trying to eat it, or just picking at slime/feces/whatever in the tentacles? It's about 1.5" across...much bigger than I expected them to try to eat. I know they'd never eat an aiptasia this size.

2. If they aren't trying to eat it, will they eventually stop harassing it?

Help! And if I can catch them, anybody want some peppermints?

[scuba_steveo]

I do not know the answer but Larry (INSTAR) has told me that he would no longer talk to me if I put peppermint shrimp in my tank.

[cvonseggern]

Great, NOW you tell me that little tidbit :P

They've never shown a bit of interest in any of the zoos or xenia, so I really didn't expect them to go after the anemone. I think I'm going to have to figure out how to catch them.

Chris

[Tim Marvin]

Sounds like you will need to give up one or the other.

[bfoleyiii]

Maybe you can *cage* the anemone for a few days (something like an inverted strawberry container) and see if things settle down after a few days. Or maybe thats just a newb idea that has been tried and wont work.

Good luck,

(and I say the shrimps go before the anemone....if we get to vote ) ;)

[christerrell2k3]

Nope, they will attack until it is floating in your tank... time to dismantly the tank and get them... or give up any hope of anenomes in your tank

[NaCl_H2O]

Get something to eat the peppermints!

Coral Banded, Fire Shrimp, ???

[alexwolf]

saron shrimp?

[cvonseggern]

"She swallowed the spider to catch the fly...I don't know why she swallowed the fly, I guess she'll die!"

Heheheheh, not about to start that vicious cycle. I have 3 skunk cleaners in there that might wind up being bait for a CBS or anything else that could eat the peppermints. I finally got clever and my superior (to a small crustacean anyway) intellect has triumphed. I put a piece of shrimp in a glass ale mug and laid it horizontally on the sandbed. It wasn't there 10 seconds before one of the peppermints was in there. Lifted the mug horizontal, then out of the tank, and presto! Caught peppermint. Two of the miscreants were caught this way and banished to the sump (footnote: will they eat pods? I might have to catch them *again* and trade them away). The third hasn't shown in over an hour despite a baited trap and the anemone there for its snacking pleasure. I might have injured it trying to catch it with the net, or it may be spooked. I hope it's OK - as frustrating as it is to learn about species compatibility this way, I don't wish them any harm for doing what comes naturally. I'll see if it shows up again. If it does, I know what to do.

Chris