Introducing a shrimp

[TehPanther]

The last half-dozen shrimp (1 coral banded, 2 skunk, 3 peppermint) I have tried to introduce into my 30 gallon tank have been summarily eaten by my black and white percula (the female).

For the longest time (over a year), I had 4 shrimp in the tank (2 skunk and 2 blood red fire). She never bothered them and everyone co-existed fine. I guess that was prior to having an anemones in the tank for her (perhaps she is more territorial now?).

I would really like to get a couple shrimp back into the tank - and would realy like the peppermints to help with aptasia. I feel as though if I could just get the shrimp through the first half-day that all would be fine. Is that thinking erroneous? Are there any suggestions to getting a couple shrimp introduced with an aggressive fish? They make for expensive snacks. Am I just wasting time and money trying to get a new shrimp introduced?

Thanks and regards,
Greg

[Polkster13]

You could try a couple of things. These may or may not work but might be worth a try. One would be to put a barrier between the fish and the shrimp for a couple of days until the fish gets used to the shrimp being there. Then feed the fish until it is stuffed right before removing the barrier. Another thing to try is to put the clown in another tank for now, rearrange all of the rockwork in your existing tank and introduce the shrimp and let them get acclimated for a couple of days. Then reintroduce the clown after feeding her until she is full.

None of these are gaurentees but they may be worth the effort. Your other choice would be to set the clown up in a tank (nano) by itself and put shrimp and other fish in your current tank. Or you could trade the clown to someone for a much smaller one (like a skunk clown).

Let us know how it works out.

[MikeDeL]

You could try adding them at night after the lights have been out for awhile.

[Reef69]

Thats really odd clown behavior...they never do mess with anything except other clowns..you might want to feed her more..keep her full..

[CD]

Does your B&W attack them the minute they hit the water? I agree with Mike - we've introduced both of our skunks at night after the lights are out, and they will go into one of our rock caves until they feel comfortable coming out. Of course with a 30G there aren't many places to hide. How much rock do you have in there? How big is the fem. perc? Are the shrimp you're buying very small, or more mature in size? How often do you feed the perc?

All this kinda strikes me as odd...our false percs have never even looked twice at the skunks. I didn't think they were that predatory. I could understand a trigger or the like, but a perc? Weird. :shock:

Wendy

[TehPanther]

Thanks for the responses!

The first couple I introduced with the light on and they were hit the minute they were released into the water (certainly wasn't expecting that but the the brightest of moves looking back). The later ones I introduced with the lights off. I did turn the lights back on within a few minutes, though. Perhaps they were not well hidden yet. The initial ones were also the larger ones (I got scared with the later ones so went cheap, thus small).

She is probably just over two inches (fairly big, I think). She should be getting plenty of food. I know that different varieties of percs can be more or less aggressive. It just surprises me with the B&W. As mentioned above, the fact she even looks twice at the shrimp is surprising to me.

I would hate to stress her, or the tank, by first catching and then pulling her out. I may try the idea of extra feeding combined with introducing at night about an hour after lights out. There should be plenty of hiding places (over 60lbs of rock) if the shrimp will just get in them and stay there. That may be my best opportunity.

Regards,
Greg

[cailan]

how are peppermints at taking care of aiptasia and with other corals? i would like to get some to take care of my aiptasia.

[alexwolf]

my saddles eat everything i drop in the tank. They have a "eat first, ask questions later" philosophy. If they get to the rocks, they are left alone. I will watch the shrimp clean the clown, when the clowns have had enough, they start chasing the shrimp.


Calian, I have 2 peppermints that polished off all my aptaisa. Mathais wanted to buy them, but maybe he can loan them to you when I get the new tank up? ;)

[witecap4u]

Are your clowns eating the shrimp, or are they attacking them and feeding them to an anemone. I feed my tank live ghost shrimp, and my big clown(3-4" maroon) will grab the shrimp and feed them to the anemones. The small clown chases them a little, but he's still scared of them.

cs

[Ram_Puppy]

very interesting behavior, I would caution on adding peppermints to a tank with anemones, it's not just aptasia they like, I have read on reef central how they have gone after BTA's, and here about them attacking a flower anemone, I considered them for aptasia control, but I am not going to go there.