Cleaner shrimp and pocillopora

Discussion in 'Coral Health' started by adamwheel, Mar 26, 2012.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. adamwheel

    adamwheel Plankton

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2012
    Messages:
    15
    Location:
    Flint, Michigan
    This morning, I noticed my cleaner shrimp eating my green pocillopora. I came home this afternoon and the entire bottom half is gone.

    Should I assume there was good reason for the shrimp to be eating it (parasite) or are they known to do these things?

    I did a quick search this morning and couldn't find anyone making similar claims.

    Thanks,

    Adam
     
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2012
  2. Click Here!

  3. Kevin3884

    Kevin3884 Tassled File Fish

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    Messages:
    1,978
    Location:
    Tallahassee, Florida
    never heard of this ever happening...
     
  4. Zechenia

    Zechenia Corkscrew Tentacle Anemone

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2011
    Messages:
    731
    Location:
    Spokane, WA
    Mine shrimp ignore my pocillopora. So, I don't think that's a normal thing.
     
  5. leighton1245

    leighton1245 Horrid Stonefish

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    Messages:
    2,081
    my shrimp was messing with my clam yesterday but never my green pocillopora
     
  6. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2010
    Messages:
    19,652
    Location:
    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    Cleaner shrimps have a good nose for decay, it may just be cleaning up a coral that experienced rapid tissue necrosis. I have never heard of a cleaner eating sps.
     
  7. adamwheel

    adamwheel Plankton

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2012
    Messages:
    15
    Location:
    Flint, Michigan
    I guess it's possible there was some tissue decay. There was a very small dead spot on it. I had thought the dead spot was from an earlier time when I was light acclimating the frag and it fell and rested on that spot for part of the day. The rest seemed very healthy and polyps were fully extended at all times. The shrimp tore off half of the frag though.
    I did see him working it to his mouth.
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. Seano Hermano

    Seano Hermano Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2010
    Messages:
    10,056
    Location:
    Northwest Ohio
    +1 to this.