Pistol shrimp and Coral banded shrimp, incomp.   6/21/09
Hello,
<I say a greeting>
I have intermediate reef experience. I have a new 34 gallon tank, 1.5 lbs/gallon live rock, established tank (3+ months), all chemicals in spec for a reef tank, 17 snails, 7 hermits,
<Mmm, too many of both>
2 feather dusters, 1 coco worm, 1 clam (crocea) and 1 coral banded shrimp.
I want to get a pistol shrimp and yellow watchmen goby which I've never had before; my question is will the CBS attack the pistol shrimp or vise versa.
<Yes>
I feed the CBS regularly and appears timid, although he has only been in the tank for 2 weeks.
<Are predaceous... will likely begin to consume your snails and anomurans...>
The other fish I want for the tank, eventually, is a mandarin goby and a six line wrasse ( I will be providing extra copepods to supplement the mandarin since I've heard the wrasse will out compete the mandarin for food).
<Can>
Thanks,
Tom
<Welcome. Bob Fenner>

Re: Pistol shrimp and Coral banded shrimp... scav. sel.   6/22/09
Bob Fenner,
I normally have had bigger aggressive reef fish (in other tanks) and not much experience with inverts. How many hermit crabs and snails per gallon is normal?
<Read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/marine/maintenance/maintindex.htm
the third tray down... BobF>
Thanks again,
Tom

Coral Banded Shrimp Compatibility 11/24/08
hi and happy thanksgiving to you all
<Thank you and the same to you.>
Can I put any other kind of shrimp in with a Coral Banded Shrimp ( red cleaner shrimp) .
<The Coral Banded Shrimp is not known as the Red Cleaner Shrimp unless you meant to be asking if a Red Cleaner Shrimp can be kept with a Coral Banded Shrimp. The Coral Banded Shrimp is very aggressive toward other Coral
Banded Shrimp and other smaller species of shrimp as well. I would not chance it. Read here
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/shrimp/corlband.htm
James (Salty Dog)>

Coral Banded Shrimp; adding a P.S. to the message just sent..., comp.   5/1/08
Hello again,
<Hi>
I just read your Q&A on Stenopus hispidus, the coral banded shrimp. My concern is I currently have my CBS with six peppermint shrimp, seven green Mithrax crabs, loads of hermits, and I just read that the CBS can be nasty towards other crustaceans.
<It does have this reputation.>
This is a surprise to me, as my CBS has coexisted with the other shrimp and crabs for three weeks and although bold he seemed fairly peaceful.
<Depends on the individual, available stimulus triggers.>
I feed my crustaceans Formula 1, Prime reef, green algae, mysis, Cyclops, blood worms, ORA pellets... a wide variety, and never the same meal twice in a row.
<Good>
So my question is, how do I keep the situation peaceful?
<Out of your hands really, they will do what their biology tells them to do.>
If I continue to offer plenty of food stuffs, will the crusties coexist as they have been.
<Might help some, but ultimately up to the biological programming hardwired in their little brains.>
I'd like to prevent problems before they begin.
Sincerely,
Sherry
<There are no guarantees when dealing with living creatures, they decide on their behavior largely without our interference.>
<Chris>
P.S. it's a 110 gallon tank with 155 lbs. of rock and plenty of hiding places.
<The space will help some.>

CBS and brittle stars
Disappearing Starfish?  3/6/08
Evening crew:
<Scott F. with you tonight!>
I have read much on your site and contributed several times. Thanks to your entire team for this great resource. I have a 300 gallon reef aquarium that has been stable and growing for about three years. Recently, two brittle stars have gone missing. I have about 400 pounds of live rock so hiding spots are abundant, but am usually able to find the stars during the every-other-night meat drop. Have read much about the predatory nature of CBS, but is there a chance my 4" bodied, 6" claw tip-to-tip coral banded shrimp has been taking out my brittle stars?
Thanks again,
Chris
<Well, Chris, I have a hard time believing that the Banded Coral Shrimp has taken out the two Brittle Stars. In fact, I'd think it more possible for large Brittle Stars to pose a threat to the shrimp! In all likelihood, these cryptic starfish are probably hiding somewhere under the rocks or substrate, and will resurface in time. Keep a sharp eye out for them! Regards, Scott F.>

Coral Banded Shrimp Removal 2-8-08
<Yunachin here>
I have a CBS who is chasing fish. I have lost one fire fish and I now have an injured neon goby.
<Possibility it could be another type of lurker? Normally these shrimp will eat other crustaceans but will not go after healthy fish. Usually. They do play second banana as far as removing carcasses and such.>
I have tried netting him. I have tried putting bait into a clear jar. Is there anything I can do without ripping up my reef or hurting the CBS?
<Unfortunately, you are most likely going to have to remove some of your rock to be able to catch this guy if the bait technique fails too many times. The shrimp themselves are quite hardy and you shouldn’t have to worry about injuring him when apprehending him. Good Luck!>
Thanks!
<Not a problem. –Yunachin>

Coral Banded Shrimp Question... comp.  11/08/07
Dear Bob Fenner,
<Christopher>
I have a 250 gallon reef tank with roughly 400 pounds of live rock..
Lots of nooks and crannies. I have 5 cleaner shrimp, several peppermint shrimp, one blood shrimp, and one coral banded shrimp.
<Mmm, keep your eye on the Stenopid>
They range from one inch to two inches in size. I recently just bought the coral banded shrimp. I wasn't aware of the fact that they are aggressive.
<Can be... very>
I have 14 fish in my tank mostly surgeon fish. It has been about two weeks since I added the coral banded shrimp (About 2 inches). So far I haven't seen any of my shrimp missing. My tank is a 8x2x2 size tank. Would it be wise to move my coral banded shrimp to my refugium to prevent any losses of my other shrimp? Or is my tank large enough to handle this one coral banded shrimp with my other shrimp and inhabitants without any harm done? Thank you and I will look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Christopher Faiola
<Only time can/will tell. Given the size of your system, the amount of cranniness, the starting size and order of introduction of the CBS, I think you'll be fine here. I would not want to try to remove this animal. Bob Fenner>

Anemone Crab with no appendages; CBS incomp.    7/25/07
It appears that my Banded Coral Shrimp dismembered my small anemone crab.
He doesn't have any claws or legs. He only has the 2 rear swimming legs (which he must have protected), his feeders and antennae.
<Ah yes, crustaceans are quite willing to autotomize their craws and/or walking legs if they are injured or attacked (just like how many lizards do with their tails).>
Is it too much for it to regenerate?
<No, but I'd still worry it might die of stress before it gets a chance to regrow the limbs. It takes a lot of metabolic energy for them to regenerate even one leg, much less several.>
Since it is still alive and trying to eat (in quarantine), I feel compelled to give it a fighting chance.
<If it's still eating, I agree it has a fair chance. Keep it in quarantine but make sure it has a place to hide (to help reduce stress). With enough food and TLC, it should recover. Just FYI, scientists believe that limb regeneration and molting in crustaceans are tightly linked processes. If you're interested (or just bored) you can read about it here: http://icb.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/41/3/399
Thank you very much.
<De nada,
Sara M.>

Coral Banded Shrimp, comp.    7/25/07
Hi all. Andy from Indiana here.
I have a quick question for ya, I have just purchased a coral banded shrimp and added it to my 30 g reef tank.
<Mmm...>
It 's tankmates are a flower anemone, 1 3 stripe damsel, 1 blue damsel, both 1 inch, an emerald crab, and numerous blue legged hermits and astrea snails. I built a cave for him/her and it made itself at home immediately. At first when I put him in the tank my damsels were checking him/her out, nothing crazy. It found its home in the cave and everything seemed to be working out, but after just one night I wake up to find both my CBS's large claws have been ripped or fallen off. I found them on the other side of the tank from his/her cave home. I guess my question is... What the heck? I thought CBS's were able to hold there own and you should have to worry about everything else in the tank? Who would be the one to pull this cruel joke on my CBS?
<Likely the Mithrax...>
Or could there be a chemistry problem I should worry about?
<Mmm, doubtful... as the invertebrates you list would be similarly mal-affected if so>
I had my water tested at the
pet store right before I went, so they either don't know what they're doing or there must be something wrong. Either way any info to help in my own testing would be helpful. Like I said I am New and rely on alot
<No such word>
of help from books and my pet supplier. So if they are not the best people to ask. I would just like to know. Rant over... Thanks for you time and any help.
Andy, Newbie in Indy
<You have read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/shrimp/corlband.htm
and the linked files above? BobF>

Killer Cleaner Shrimp?!  – 06/28/07
Hey everybody, how's it going?
Anyways I have a 24 gallon Nano with a false percula, Nemo, his anemone, cleaner goby, cleaner shrimp, Jacques, and I just introduced a baby hippo tang, Dory, yesterday.
<Oh dear, that fish is going to get way too big for a 24g tank!>
Nemo greeted her with some strange behavior, he shook his tale at her and then swam down to his anemone and back up to her, as if to say "follow me!" Dory finally started following him a little ways but never would go all the way to the bottom of my tank. Do you think Nemo was really trying to court her? ...my poor confused clownfish.
<It sounds to me like they might be establishing their territories in the tank.>
Well, it wasn't too long before Jacques wanted in on the action and chased Dory around the tank trying to clean her. I can understand why my fish run from him, seeing as he's the biggest thing in my tank (almost 2"). Ever since he reached a decent size I've been worried about his behavior. He terrorizes everything in my tank trying to clean them.
<Your shrimp sounds hungry. Often times, especially in smaller tanks, cleaner shrimp do not get enough to eat just from cleaning the fish in the tank. In the wild, they have a lot more "customers" and often times, much bigger fish to clean. The cleaner shrimp that survive in aquariums usually learn to get additional food some other way. My advice to you would be to try feeding your cleaner shrimp. You mentioned that he cleans your hands. Try holding some food and see if he'll eat it from your hand. You probably don't need to hold the food for him, but this sounds like more fun, right? ;) >
I'm sure he's also responsible for the deaths of my pearly jawfish, blue gudgeon, and sixline, all of which jumped into the back of my tank into my filtration system, probably from being startled in the middle of the night by my cleaner shrimp!
<That might be one possibility, but there are quite a few things that can startle fish into jumping. A sudden flash of light can do this too sometimes. >
When I'm doing work in my tank my cleaner shrimp always comes out to clean me, and I have to say, there's no better way to clean under your fingernails than with a cleaner shrimp. I always let him pick at my hand but it just seems like he's picking way too hard. Of course it doesn't hurt me but if he did it to a fish he'd probably harm it. Anyways, last night I nearly flipped out. Dory, who was sleeping at the top of the tank was visited by my cleaner shrimp. I thought well good, now I can see what he really does and maybe the fish will learn he only wants to clean them. Then he starts dragging her down to his cleaning station! Luckily she woke up enough to swim out of his grasp, but seriously what is wrong with my cleaner shrimp!? He's about to meet his maker
<Oh, please don't say that. It's quite unusual for a cleaner shrimp to harm a fish. But your shrimp does definitely sound desperate for food. Try feeding him more and see if he doesn't become less aggressive.>
Sorry for such a long post and thanks so much for any help you can give,
<No problem. Good luck. :-)
Sara M.>
Lindsay

Small SW... Incompatible shrimp jamming  – 06/14/07
Dear Crew,
<Catherine>
I have had an established reef tank: 29gallon BioCube with 3 small fish, many invertebrates and lots of coral. I do weekly partial water changes (6 gallons)
I have had lots of shrimps. At one point I had 2 skunk cleaner shrimps (1 inch), 2 fire/blood shrimps (1 inch), 1 coral banded shrimp (3/4 inch).
<Wow... these are tiny>
A month ago I added 2 peppermint shrimps (3/4 inch)
<These are not mix-able... esp. in such a small volume>
to the tank and they were fine for 3 days, the next day the two peppermint shrimps had gone and so had one fire shrimp.
<... Was it/this the Stenopid? Mmmmm>
I waited for 3 days to see if anything reappeared but nothing reappeared. I went and brought another fire shrimp and got replacements for my peppermint shrimps.
<Food>
Once again they lasted a few day then vanished without a trace along with one skunk cleaner shrimp. I left it for 3 weeks then I bought a new cleaner shrimp and a Harlequin shrimp
<A Gnathophyllid? You do know re their limited food preferences?>
to add only the cleaner shrimp died in transport. I added the harlequin and the next day my two fire shrimps appeared to be gone with my harlequin. The harlequin has reappeared only the fire shrimp haven't and it has been 4 days. They were always in the front of my tank and always came for food. Now I have a small coral banded shrimp, a medium skunk cleaner shrimp and a harlequin shrimp. Do you know what could be causing all these deaths?
<Yes my friend... and you would too had you searched... the CBS. Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marind5_5.htm
Scroll down to Crustaceans, Shrimps... read re their Systems, Compatibility... Bob Fenner>
Thank you,
Catherine T, NY

Coral Banded Shrimp; Killer or Just Opportunistic  – 05/08/07
Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,
<Hi…I’m not a lady…and some might argue I’m not a gentlemen either….but Adam will work!>
You are a wealth of knowledge and I know you can help me with a problem I am having.
<I will try my friend.>
I have a 30 Gallon Cube with a 30 Gallon refugium,
<I like the sound of the set-up already.>
my tank is really a FOWLR though I have a few softies and inverts. I had up until recently the following line up: Cherub Angel, Firefish, Six Line Wrasse, Royal Gramma,
Barnacle Blenny, and a Scooter Blenny.
<Considering the overall volume of the system and the fact that I see your dragnet is somewhat accepting of captive fair this sounds okay.>
I recently moved and I had a precipitous drop in my pod population,
<Yes will take a few weeks for them to re-establish after such a traumatic event. I would not worry…to be on the safe side you could seed it with some rock. sand from a friends tank or buy purchasing one of the marketed “bottle-of-pods” concoctions.>
I have been trying to augment my scooter blenny's feeding (though he does eat frozen Mysid and bloodworms) but I noticed his belly starting to show signs of starvation.
<Well the good news is that he is eating the captive fair.  Maybe try some type of vitamin/fatty acid supplementation like Selcon…and some finely chopped mussel/bivalve meat as well.>
At the same time I was worrying for him, now about 2 months after the move, I have since added a Clown Goby and a Coral Banded Shrimp.
<I would have left both out….the former is a competitor to the pods with the dragonet and the latter can be predatory at times on smaller moving animals and other crustaceans.>
The shrimp moves about and after a few weeks has still not settled into a territory - he competes with a large Peppermint and Skunk Cleaner but they all pretty much get along.
<For now……>
I have seen the CBS run off fish and the shrimps from time to time but never try to catch one,
<They are a risk, though I must say they typically are not able to catch a healthy animal (though slower fish like goby’s, dragonets and blenny’s would be more at risk.>
he has on one occasion however attacked a hermit crab (getting away with a limb).
<Common.>
One week ago I could not find the Scooter Blenny, but he did seem to be acting weird and was not accepting much food just prior. I assume he was eaten by a serpent star I have who often disposes of dead fish but lives in a borrow with at least 3 of my current fish.
<Would be completely natural for an animal to attack another sick animal that he/she would not normally have, had that animal been healthy.>
I assumed that he died of starvation but now I am not so sure.
<Could be a combination of both illness/starvation and prey/predator relation.>
The Clown Goby  was picked up as a replacement to the Scooter and he had been at my LFS for 3 weeks prior and I finally decided to get him. He seemed healthy and active, but in my tank while he remained active refused to eat almost everything I tried.
<If relatively new…I would not be concerned quite yet.>
I figured he was just stressed and would fall in if I kept up a varied regime. He had taken up a home on an outcropping of Kenya Tree in my tank well away from my main rockwork and home to the CBS. I kept him for 5 days and though he was not observed eating appeared nonetheless in good health. When I came home today I noticed he was dead and being chewed on by the CBS. I'm sure you see where I am going.
<Oh yes….>
1.       Either, the Goby and the Scooter both were unfortunate deaths who were later scavenged.
<A strong possibility.>
2.       The Scooter was an unfortunate death and the Goby was murdered!!!
<Also a possibility.>
3.       The CBS opportunistically preyed on sick fish, or worse yet has developed a taste for fish.
<Likely the former…in fact if I was a betting man I’d put money on it.>
I have decided not to replace the Scooter Blenny, despite my large refugium it may take some time to replenish the pod population and I know my Six Line helping to keep the numbers down,
<True and a responsible /smart move on your choice.>
it therefore would not be fair to try again with such a delicate fish.
<Agreed.>
However, I did fall in love with the little Clown Goby and would like to replace it. I also fear for some of my other fish. Would replacing the Goby in the future be a gamble? Should I wait for some form of confirmation on the CBS or should I replace him as a precaution?
<If you plan on keeping the CBS it is a large risk to replace the goby; if you remove the CBS I have no qualms about adding another goby once the tank has recuperated.>
Sincerely,
<Good luck.>
Derek
<Adam J.>

Cleaner Shrimp with a Coral Banded Shrimp in a 45-gallon?  Mmm, No.   03/23/07
<Hello, Mich here>
Can I put a cleaner shrimp with a coral banded shrimp together in 45-gallon tank or will they attack each other and ill end up with no shrimp at all.
<Likely the case.>
I know that I could put two cleaner shrimp together.
<Yes, without a problem, as long as the tank is fed regularly.>
Please help.
<Coral Banded Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) are quite aggressive, especially toward other shrimp.  I think placing Cleaner Shrimp or any Lysmata sp. with the Coral Banded in a tank this small would be a mistake.  -Mich>

Invertebrates and Parasites Part II 1/20/07
Thanks for the information.  Are Coral Banded Shrimp good to add to a tank? <They can work in the proper aquarium.  See here  http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/shrimp/corlband.htm for more.>
<Chris>

Living In Peace With a Coral Banded Shrimp   11/7/06
Hello,
<Hi there! Scot F. here today!>
First let me say that I greatly enjoy reading your Q&A pages, I have learned a lot from them. I was just wondering what size tank I would need to keep 1 Coral Banded Shrimp and some Mushrooms (and if you think the Coral Banded Shrimp would not kill it, a damsel.) I have 2 other tanks saltwater tanks but I have not bought a CBS for either of those tanks for fear of it eating other shrimps and crabs.  Thank you very much.
Tom
<Well, Tom- these shrimp do get surprisingly large- and can be a bit feisty, so I'd probably refrain from keeping on in anything less than a 20-40 gallon tank. It's not so much that the animals need the space to roam- it's that this sized tank provides ample room for them to live in harmony with other animals, free from concerns over who will become the other guy's dinner entree! Keep the shrimp well fed and it should be fine with many fish and invertebrates. Good luck! Regards, Scott F.>

CBS removal   8/20/06
Hello Crew:
I have a Coral Banded Shrimp that recently started terrorizing my fish.
<Happens>
  I have 3 Reef Chromis that live in fear of this nasty little shrimp.  I plan on removing him today and was wondering if it will harm the fish to remove all of the rock long enough to catch the shrimp.
<Not as much as leaving the Stenopid in place>
I was also thinking that while the rock is out I will do a water change to remove any nasty stuff that might have gone in the cracks.
<Good idea>
Overall would you say that my Chromis, Gramma, Sixline, and two clowns will handle this quick process OK?  Thank you for your time.
<Should be fine. Bob Fenner>

Re: early stages of disease on clownfish (and now cleaner shrimp murder!) ... I'll say!   8/11/06
Bob,
<Derek>
Thanks for your reply. It's great to know the mail got to you. Again, I love the site and have spent a lot of time using your own advice for research.
<Am glad you find the work of interest, use>
Re the Leopard Wrasse - Yes it's a Macropharyngodon bipartitus... had it a month now and so far it's fine.
<... a combination of a very good specimen (well caught, kept, transported...) and your good care. This species rarely does well in captivity>
It eats pretty much any freeze-dried or frozen food greedily, especially loves freeze dried bloodworm, and seems very much at home and happy. It was incredibly shy for a week but now will eat from my fingers...Sleeps soundly in the sand... Maybe I just got lucky.
<Plus>
But your reply timing is good... My boxer shrimp has been chasing the cleaner for a couple of days,
<Oh oh... time to separate them... The Stenopid can/will eat even fishes...>
and today I found a very meaty, cleaner shrimp coloured, chunk on the sand. It didn't look like shed skeleton, very much more like a chunk of shrimp meat... soon grabbed and taken by the boxer as I looked. Do you think the boxer could have killed it?
<Assuredly yes>
And, the boxer has been very cocky since it grew back its missing claw, it has a pop at my very fat clownfish sometimes... do you think a rogue boxer could kill and eat a
healthy clownfish (clown is slightly longer than the boxer's body and obviously much fatter)?
<A good match...>
The clown defends its territory easily, but I just wondered if it could be grabbed unawares at night....
<Could be>
Anyway, the boxer is the only visible suspect for cleaner murder... but there are many unidentified things in my live rock... I've seen arms dart out of holes at passing Hermits...no idea what they could be.
Thanks again,
Derek
<I'd be moving this Boxer Shrimp... pronto. Bob Fenner>

Banded coral Shrimp
Good day Mr. Robert,
<Good day>
I read your FAQ with big interest since I' m quite new in the salt water fishes hobby. The aquarium been installed in December but my boy friend had it for one year at his previous place. Yes, he did move out a 100 gallons aquarium from Toronto to Montreal December 30th, in a snow storm . (we had bought a new aquarium here in Montreal). Everything seams doing pretty well so far as he brought with him 60 gallons of water.
<Good idea.>
There is 80 pounds of live rock, about 10 fishes i.e. Yellow tang (Cleopatra), blue Damsel, mandarin, Cinnamon clown s , 2 star fishes , a wrasse fish (eating parasite), a new (its my favorite) baby blue surgeon fish named junior, 2 new true perculas (they are right now in a hospital tank coz one have fungus) lots of snails, crabs.
There is of course, hard & soft corals and 2 anemones (one is the carpet).
We have 2 problems that I would likely appreciate your comments about it:
1) Two weeks ago we add in the tank 2 banded Coral Shrimp, very pretty indeed , apparently it is the male and the female. The thing is the bigger one always looking for fight and did took out 2 chugs from the other one.
One already grow back after the mute. I wonder if it will be always like this because the smaller one seams very afraid and go away as soon as the
bigger one comes over. I really wish that they will get along in the future of course. What is your impression?
<Should get along better as time goes by in this size system... if same sex (as in two males), could continue to fight... kill the other one during a molt period especially... if possible, I'd move the smaller one.>
2) The second situation is that in the same time (2 weeks ago) we add a
Royal Gramma that look adult and was in a good health .Since 3 days now he vanished . Even when we feed them he doesn't come along to eat. I read that the Gramma sometimes hide in the rock but I wonder if something else did happened. I did check in the back of the tank to see if he had jump, but no he is not there. hum what do you think?
<Maybe still hiding... but more likely it did jump... do you have a cat?>
We thank you in advanced for your reply. Johanne .
<Thank you for writing, sharing your experiences, thoughts. Bob Fenner>

Cleaner shrimp killing live fish? Could be...
Hi Robert,
I have a mystery to solve. I have recently had a few fish disappear (2 green Chromis) without a trace and just found my mandarin fish being consumed by my cleaner shrimp. I have the following cleaners in my 55g reef tank:
2 Lysmata amboinensis and 2 Lysmata wurdemanni (purchased for Aiptasia control - yes, they were successful)
I also have one Mithrax (emerald) crab but it does not look like the one on your crab page. Mine only has one pincher claw (on its left side) and seems to only pick up tiny bits of ? from the live rock. If you think this is the culprit, how best could I remove it without dismantling the tank?
<Bait, trap it out...>
I have removed the hermit crabs from my tank since they kept eating the snails to get their shells.
All four shrimp actively eat the food I add for the fish (flake, brine shrimp (for cardinal fish until they are trained to eat other food), Nori) so I know they are not starving.
Will cleaner shrimp catch and kill fish?
<The Stenopus might well be the "Butler" here...>
Should I regularly add meat for these guys? If so, what would you recommend and how often?
<Yes... something meaty about twice a week>
I have a question about your book (CMA). I have seen e-tailers list the
hard and soft back books with different copyright dates, different number of pages, etc. Are they the same? 
<Hmm, someone else recently mentioned the "different numbers of pages"... I looked at the couple of "courtesy copies" rec'd from the most recent publishing (2001) and both the HB and soft have the same number of pages... 430... but I thought I recalled the original having 432... Copyright is the same... As far as I'm aware the book is the same. I'll post this on the WWM site and maybe someone will know better, more.>
If not, which is more recent (assuming a more recent version to be "improved")? Are you planning a soon to be released update to it?
<All the same... would really like it if the publisher: Microcosm/TFH would get going on some other titles I have "done" (or close to it)... there is a "Conscientious Reef Aquarist", four volumes on "The Best Livestock For Your Marine/Reef Aquarium", a pond and a planted aquarium title... Do have a contract for, am working on a "Pocket Guide for Pond Organisms"....>
Thanks for sharing your knowledge with those of us just starting out. Jay
<Thank you. For asking and contributing. Bob Fenner>

My coral banded shrimp
Hi, Bob. I think my coral banded shrimp has become more and more aggressive.
<This happens>
I have lost a few small damsels, 2 cleaner shrimps and 2 camel shrimps to him.
<Mmm, the shrimps I believe... but damsels? Something else may be at play here>
I didn't actually witness all the killings but since I only keep yellow tang and tomato clown so far and all the victims had been doing well until their last day, the coral banded is the only possible culprit I can think of.
<Perhaps some unidentified lurkers... Alpheid, Mantis shrimps... large bristle worm/s>
I did see how one of the lost camels died. It happened all of a sudden. Firstly, the cleaners and other camels tried to bully him, and later the coral banded joined in and finished him off with his huge claw. I did try to stop it but in vain. The lost camel seemed very weak and vulnerable. I think probably because he need to molt and so looked weak. The other shrimps then took the advantage and got rid of him. You reckon? 
<Possibly? Are they crowded? Were they being fed?>
This is also what I think how other shrimps were killed. Isn't it amazing if my guess is right, the strong ones will gang up and kill the weak ones. Actually, you did warn me that I might lose some shrimps when they were molting. Now I still got 5 shrimps left (one coral banded, two cleaners, one fire and one camel) in my 44 gal tank.
<This is too small a system...>
I guess you probably think it is still a bit too packed. I am thinking to get rid of the coral banded but I do have ambivalent feeling toward this fellow. Maybe I just let the nature decide and add no more of small fish and shrimps.
<Perhaps... and start saving, planning for a bigger system?>
Last time you advised me to feed more variety of food to my yellow tang and added some iodine and vitamin supplements to the water to help the yellow tang regain his color. I tried and it did help. The yellow tang looks a lot better now. Thank you.
<Ah, good>
I would keep sharing with my experience if  you don't mind. G'day day! Eric..
<Please do. Bob Fenner>

And the Dingo ate me Baby
Dear Bob.
I hope this finds you well and in good spirits. Quick one today.
<Okay>
I have just come back from a lecture this morning and have discovered to my horror that a hermit crab and the CBS the one that you recommended trading :) have been EATEN!!!. There are pieces of fore-claws and hermit crab legs over the bottom of the tank. Apparently the CBS had molted last night as his exoskeleton is still near him. Not sure what happened to the hermit crab.
Quick review of the culprits. Would it be;
a. The tomato clown.
b. The Scooter Blenny.
c. The two fire gobies.
d. One of the Two Cardinals, Banggai and Pajama.
e. The Royal Dottyback
or last but not least, the Yellow Tang, who was always letting the CBS clean him.
Please circle your choice :)
<Almost certainly the Dottyback (pseudochromid for browsers of elsewhere)>
In mourning and do not want to run out and buy another Shrimp esp. the more expensive ones so that they can become Fish Fingers so to speak.
<Yes>
Oh and while I am keeping it short :) I have a quick question about the Pulsing Xenia. When we got it was a whitish color and was pulsing away like mad. Now that it is in the larger tank it has changed color
to purple and the polyps no longer pulse. It retracts at night, and seems to be growing longer day by day. There are also numerous small colonies sprouting up from the two larger stalks.
<Stress symptomology... you do use iodide occasionally? I would... and add something in the way of wash/food about the area (while temporarily shutting down skimmer/s, mechanical filtration? Please read: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/xeniidfaqs.htm>
And also if you could settle a dispute that would be really helpful.
After moving all of the live rock into the new tank about two weeks ago, everything was fine. Now the new coral substrate and everything is becoming covered with a layer of emerald green "algae" as well as on top
of the green layer large spots of Maroon and Purple "algae" are developing. The argument is, when I said that it was good algae, as opposed to the hair algae that the tang has disposed of, I was told it looks like it will turn into a swamp. Do I have too much light. I have 130 Gallon tank with 2 watts of power compact 50-50 per gallon.
<This is almost certainly mainly Blue Green Algae/Cyanobacteria... not desirable, not eaten by Tangs... Please read on WWM re its causes, control>
Ok leaving you alone now. I very much appreciate your time. Look forward to your reply. No rush so if there are more pressing matters please answer them first.
<Will do so. Bob Fenner>
Regards as always. Julian Hunt

Killer Shrimp?
<<Greetings, Miriam - JasonC at your service.>>
JasonC, please disregard the last email I sent. 
<<ok.>> 
But I still really need HELP! Here's the situation. As you recall, my domino damsel had some sort of fungal infection around his eye. This morning when I fed them, he didn't eat as hearty as he usually does. About three hours later (when I'd gotten all the necessary things) I went to set up my QT and to check on the domino. He was no where to be seen. Finally I located him, and he was in my coral banded shrimp's cave. I thought maybe he went there seeking help for the fungus, and went about setting up the QT. About a half an hour later, he was still in there (hard to see inside the cave) and I didn't think he was moving. So I stuck the handle of my net in the cave to see if he'd move. He didn't. Fearing for my fingers, I pulled him out. Dead. 
<<oh, sorry to hear about that.>>
 Not only dead but partially eaten. The area where the fungus was completely cleared of fungus, scales, and skin. His fins were also eaten off. Sad to say, this is not the first time something like this happened. I fell for the blue-streak cleaner wrasses before I could be warned off, and one of them died. Found him in Yngwie's cave (the CBS) with his fins and his belly gone. Now, I'm sure the wrasse died on it's own, as he was very ill and hardly moving when I went to be the night before. After long delay, my question is--Did Yngwie kill my fish, or is he just doing his job as a scavenger?
<<I vote for the latter.>>
 Keep in mind, the domino was alive and swimming (slowly) just three hours before. I'd really hate to give up my shrimp, but if he's killing fish he's got to go. Please, a quick reply would ease my mind. Yngwie's innocent...isn't he?  Jodie 
<<I do believe he is innocent and just taking advantage of a free and easy meal. Sadly for you damsel, the eye injury might have been a little worse than it looked. The slow swimming was probably a sign. No worries about the shrimp. Cheers, J -- >>

Shrimp
Hi, Bob. 
<friend/author Anthony Calfo in your service>
My tank is doing fine (remember, Honduras, 100 gal. FO tank). Question: Can I add a fire/scarlet shrimp and a peppermint shrimp to my banded coral shrimp? Thanks as always, Bernd
<All beauties...but alas, not safe with the banded coral shrimp. This large clawed species can be quite territorial and may tear the fire and peppermint shrimps limb from limp. Unduly risky... best regards. Anthony>

Shrimp (Steve's turn)
Hi, Bob.
<Steven "talking" right now.>
My tank is doing fine (remember, Honduras, 100 gal. FO tank). Question: Can I add a fire/scarlet shrimp and a peppermint shrimp to my banded coral shrimp?
<Sometimes. Your problem will be the Coral Banded Shrimp. I have seen several instances of shrimp species coexisting in tanks over 100 gallons, but many times some of them "disappear". Coral Banded Shrimp are notorious for killing other species.>
Thanks as always, Bernd
<You are welcome. -Steven Pro>

Coral banded shrimp
I have a 55 gallon tank with 1 coral banded shrimp in the tank. I'm new to salt water. The tank consists of him/her a peppermint shrimp, 2 turbo snails a clown and 2 damsels oh ya a powder brown tang and 45 pounds of live rock. My question is how of ten will the coral banded shrimp have babies or is it having babies I have found three carcasses in the tank in the three to four months that she has been in there (the carcasses are coral banded). Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dave
<Won't be having babies if there's only one... this is a dioecious species ("two houses"), takes two to tango... a male and a female. Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/shrimp/corlband.htm
Bob Fenner>

Aiptasia, Shrimp, CBS meals
Hello Bob,
My 40g reef tank is about 6months old and just recently there has been an outbreak of Aiptasia anemones. I've tried adding a peppermint shrimp to the tank but after a few days I can't seem to find it anymore. In my tank, I have a Banggai cardinal, purple Firefish, and a coral banded shrimp.
<whoa! Hello killer! Banded coral shrimps pull many/most/all other shrimps limb from limb!>
Could the Coral Banded shrimp have eaten the peppermint shrimp? 
<does a bear bring a reader's digest into the woods?>
I also have a bunch of emerald crabs that came with the LR.
<sturdy and safe from the BC shrimp>
thanks in advance, Jason
<best regards, Anthony>

Bubble Coral and Banded Coral Shrimp
Dear Bob (and company),
After 15 months, still no disease processes in my reef with water and animals treated and tested with Fenner advice. I caught the banded coral shrimp eating one of the Banggai cardinals.
<Unable to kill such a fish, but will surely scavenge it.>
A cleaner shrimp also is missing since I put in the banded coral.
<Notorious for killing other shrimp, though.>
All literature says the banded coral is a good guy, reef safe, etc.
<And should also say not safe with other shrimp.>
I have a number of small fish (fairy Basslets, clowns, fire fish, green Chromis). Should I get the banded shrimp out of there? How?
<Depends how much you want other shrimp.>
On another subject, I have a bubble coral (I'm not sure if it's Plerogyra or Physogyra) that has been in the reef for a year. It has doubled in size to seven inches when fully expanded. It remains fully expanded during the day except for about an inch in the middle which no longer expands at all. It looks like it is dividing into two large specimens. Is this possible?
<Yes.>
Or is it sick? I feed it small bits of raw ocean fish and shrimp with forceps weekly. Also, it enjoys the freshly hatched brine shrimp that I feed the reef at night weekly. Water Chemistry remains perfect with calcium at 350 - 400. I add very small supplements of Iodine, magnesium, and strontium.
Howard
<Sounds good, Steven Pro>

Questions about Boxer Shrimp
Dear Sir,
            I would like to seek your help for my Marine Aquarium. I am a beginner and I have set up an aquarium of 2", I have left 5 pc.s of live rocks that have 1/4 spaces in my aquarium. I have a few of 2 inches fishes that is die without confirmed reasons. so I have to ask:
          This happened when I started to keep boxer shrimp in my tank. Although I don't want to think like that, but I think that if it is what the boxer shrimp has done: attack my small fishes and eat them. While my Nemo Fishes is not harmed).
         From the articles, I have known that boxer shrimp eat small fishes, and it is also predators. But in the same article, I found that boxer shrimp also known as Coral-Banded Shrimp - CBS, right?) has a function to clean fishes.
<Yes>
Is it has the same functions as Cleaner Shrimp - "mainly clean white spots in fishes"? If not, what's the cleaning function different from cleaner shrimp?
<Basically to remove external parasites and necrotic tissue>
         I have also heard that Cleaner Shrimp will be eaten by CBS, is it correct? Ok. I arrange the question I want to ask:
<Can happen, yes>
1) Do you think it is possible that my CBS has eaten the 2 inches small fishes? (Even it has eaten, it seems still want to catch the fishes - but in my sight, it is normally not successful)
<Yes, possible>
2) Can I still keep CBS in my 2" Aquarium while having small fishes?
<Yes. If the CBS is not hungry, will likely leave your fishes alone>
3) What's the function of CBS? What's the differences cleaning functions compared to Cleaner Shrimp?
<More of an opportunistic omnivore organism... able to survive as a cleaner, but also capable of becoming, or supplementing its nutrition as a predator>
4) What's the function of Cleaner Shrimp except curing white spots?
<Other parasites, dead tissue>
5) I heard that Sea horse eat small shrimps, but each time I put shrimps or dry foods) into my aquarium, sea horse seems not interesting, so what happened? How I should feed it? Will it die? (I didn't even notice sea horses eat anything)
<Perhaps... some crustaceans are not palatable to your seahorses>
6) My clown fishes is also with white spots, Why? Is the aquarium not clean enough? If I buy Cleaner Shrimp, will it cure my clown fishes? I heard that there's a antidote (liquid) to cure white spots marine specially, should I buy that medicine? Will the 1 cleaner shrimp just enough for my 2" aquarium without the medicine?
<Many factors go into determining whether white spot/Cryptocaryon becomes expressed or not. You may read re this equation on WetWebMedia.com...>
Thanks for viewing my questions and I hope to get reply soon. ^_^
<I hope to have more specific conversations with you, till you are satisfied with the completeness of your understanding. Bob Fenner>

Pair of coral banded shrimp
Good day WWM Crew I have a pair of coral banded shrimp in my 75 gallon tank I was wondering will they eat my mushroom coral?<doubtful> also I have a decorator crab will their be a problem?<This potentially could be a problem. I have seen CBS kept with decorator crabs. some fight and some don't. its just a chance that you have to be willing to take> The female has blue eggs under her I know these wont have a chance in my tank with filters it would be nice if one made it thought.<agreed> Thanks WWM Crew <IanB>

CBS molting
My newly acquired shrimp molted and I learned from reading through the Q&A's that it is best to leave the molt in the tank.  However, I noticed that the Condy had it in its clutches.  Is it something the anemone can consume or should I try to take it away from him/her (whatever)  Wouldn't want the poor thing to get choked and/or constipated.
<If the molt triggers the anemones nematocysts (the stinging portion of the tentacle, located at the tip of the tentacle), then the anemone will most likely consume the molt. There certainly isn't going anything bad happening to your anemone for eating the molt, I'm actually certain that the molt will contain proteins which will help the anemone. As far as choking goes, the anemone will most likely not choke on such foods (unless the food source is larger than the anemone). As far as "constipation" comes, anemones will break down all available food sources and will spit up any uneaten sources (such as bones, scales, etc.). It's impossible for the anemone be constipated.>
Have been feeding the shrimp, Condy and starfish by hand frozen Formula One every other day or so.  They seem to like it.  Any problem with that?
<I doubt that there is any problem. As long as they're all healthy and consuming the food, I would stick with it>
Thanks for the great service you provide.  You all have the patience of
Job!
<Thank you! Take Care, Graham.>
Janie

Coral banded shrimp 12/19/03
Dear Bob,
<Hi Christina! Adam here at your service>
I sent you a previous email with a question regarding my coral banded shrimp.  He had what I think must be a bad molt.  He lost his huge pinchers, and all of his legs.  I had emailed you saying he had his two mini pinchers which he used for feeding.  I just took a closer look and all he has are two front legs.
<Generally crustaceans regrow lost appendages internally, and they are revealed upon molting.  I have never observed them to lose the appendages in the act of molting.  Are their any fish or other shrimp that may be sparring with your CB?  Some fish will quite disturbingly dismember prey items instead of just eating them.  Also, CB's will fight viciously with each other and occasionally other shrimp.>
I am concerned about him eating, since now he has nothing to grab food with.  Does this mean inevitable death??  Any advice?
<your concern is quite warranted, but I don't think death is inevitable.  I would place some food near the shrimp and see if it is able to get it to it's mouth.  If so, it may make it.  In the mean time do try to find the cause and remove it (obviously not possible if this is some kind of disease).  Best of luck!  Adam>

Re: coral banded shrimp 12/20/03
Dear Adam,
<Hi Christina!>
Thank you sooo much for taking the time to respond to my email.   I love your site, and am extremely thankful!!
<My pleasure!  Glad you have benefited from WWM.>
In my tank...coral beauty, royal Gramma, yellow clown goby, maroon clownfish.  Nothing has ever shown any aggression whatsoever.
<Your royal Gramma and maroon clown could harass inverts, but I agree that even they are not likely candidates.  A bit of advice when you want to catch one of your fish "in the act"...  Observe from across the room.  Your fish are very well conditioned to be fed or disturbed when you approach the tank and will almost always drop what they are doing to see what you are doing.>
I had been using activated carbon and am wondering
if that depleted my poor coral banded shrimps iodine supply.  I wonder if that is possible?
<Activated carbon will indeed deplete iodine, but to the best of my knowledge, there is no proof that it is required in other than trace quantities for proper crustacean health.  Some have observed that iodine additions stimulate molting and have inferred that this means that it is required, but it could as easily be a poisoning response.>
Thanks again.
<Surely!>

Fight of the Year!  Coral Banded Shrimp vs. Mantis!
>Saludos Salados:
>>Greetings!
>Last week I purchased a CBS and placed him on a 10gal tank. This tank has been running for a year with no apparent problem. The other tankmates are a Cinnamon Clown a Turbo snail and a couple of Bumble Bee snails.
>>Alright.  And now..??
>Recently my wife noticed a strange animal in one of the life rock holes. For her description I think we have a Mantis in the tank.
>>Oh no.. <groan>.  I had a tank wiped out by a mantis once.
>This would explain the disappearance of a Royal Gramma about a month ago.
>>It would explain it quite neatly.
>My question is, will the CBS kill the Mantis or the other way around?
>>My money's on the mantis, hands DOWN.  As a matter of fact, being as how I'm NOT a gambling woman, I would actually put money on that one.
>I am concerned for the CBS (named Jacques) which my son regards as a cool pet to have.  Best Regards; José A. González
>>I would be concerned as well.  There are those who've had luck using different traps.  At the very least (and often the best), if you can determine which piece of rock it's in, then you can remove it to a pail of fresh water.  This will cause the animal to exit IMMEDIATELY, and allow you to put the rock back in sans mantis.  Marina

Who Will Win the Shrimp War. I'll bet on the Mantis (12/10/03)
Saludos Salados: <Greetings>
Last week I purchased a CBS and placed him on a 10gal tank. This tank has been running for a year with no apparent problem. The other tankmates are a Cinnamon Clown a Turbo snail and a couple of Bumble Bee snails.
Recently my wife noticed  a strange animal in one of the life rock holes. For her description I think we have a Mantis in the tank. <Uh oh> This would explain the disappearance of a Royal Gramma about a month ago. <Quite possible.>
My question is, will the CBS kill the Mantis or the other way around? <I'd put my money on the Mantis any day. It has a much more formidable weapon>
I am concerned for the CBS (named Jacques) which my son regards as a cool pet to have. <CBS are way cool. I love mine. Do get rid of that mantis. Start here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/stomatopods/mantisfaqs.htm>
Best Regards; José A. González

Arrow crab, missing legs... a big Stenopus...
Hey gang, just a quick question here! I Woke up this morning to find my arrow crab hiding in the corner...with only 3 legs remaining. This is a sad sight, even his pinchers have been eaten off, and his little body is just
resting on the sand. Here is the question: Can the arrow crab regenerate his lost legs, or is there anything that can be done to help poor Mr. Crabs???
<Can, will regenerate legs if survives... might be best to move this animal... or the offendi>
I am afraid that with only 3 legs, and no pinchers to defend himself, he will become a late-night snack...but for whom? I read on your website that my brittle star could be the culprit???
<Possible, but...>
Never would have guessed that one.
Also, we have a rather large coral banded shrimp (El Pincho) and an even bigger peppermint shrimp (Pepe'). Pepe seems to bother everything from the corals to the anemone, so he was my first suspect.
<Mine as well>
Any idea which of these might have developed an appetite for crab? On a side note: Had a cleaner
shrimp for about a day, and haven't seen him (or any evidence of his body) since. Initially I thought he had found a great hiding spot, but after seeing Mr. Crabs, I am certain that our Cleaner shrimp came across a similar fate. Who is eating my invertebrate friends???
Thanks for the help!
Jamie
<Other invertebrate friends... I would move at least the larger CBS... if not both. Bob Fenner>

Coral Banded Shrimp
Hello:
<Hello! Ryan with you today>
I have a coral banded shrimp that seems to be picking at my mushroom corals, and he is very curious about my curly-cue anemone.  I plan to get quit a bit of soft corals but when I bought this coral banded shrimp it was "reef safe", I also have a emerald crab will he be trouble in the future, so far he just eats what he wants and doesn't bother other corals. <All crabs are opportunists at best> Should I trade these two in a get a fish or in your opinion are they just scavenging food on top of/near the corals... <Neither is to be trusted, certainly not with expensive corals.  Much better in FOWLR applications.> My shrimp seems to stay upside down most of the time and not bother stuff, but other times he gets curious. <I have seen mine catch and kill a purple Firefish...> Any suggestions/comments would be greatly appreciated...
<These are predators, and will eventually need removal unless you don't mind an occasional polyp missing.  Good luck! Ryan>

Coral Banded Follow Up
Hello:
<Hey! Ryan with the follow-up>
I can't take them in until Monday, so I guess they won't do much damage, they been in there for a couple of days.  I thought they would all be reef safe, I don't mind keeping them if they won't damage my corals, but you think they will???  I thought they cleaned the fish, no kill them...
<Although Coral Banded Shrimp serve cleaning purposes in nature, I'm not sure that any aquarists actually benefit from their cleaning services.  There are plenty of cleaners that WON'T eat your fish however, and they
are widely available.  Good luck, Ryan>  

Battling shrimp? 2/17/04
Hi all! I've just started my 46 gallon tank with 50lbs live rock and 40lbs live sand. It's been cycling for a couple weeks and shows well in all tests. I'm hoping to add a pair of mated Coral Banded shrimp with a collection of turbo snails, Blue Legged Hermit, a Sally Lightfoot and Emerald crabs. I was hoping to add a Blood shrimp but after much investigation I've decided it wouldn't be safe. What do you think? What I really would like to know is if the CBS will harm any of the crabs. Thanx for any info you can give!
<there is no question in my mind that the coral banded shrimp(s) is/are likely to pull the fire shrimp and any other Lysmata/small clawed shrimp limb from limb. They are very territorial, but hardy and handsome. Do pick one or the other here my friend to be safe :) Anthony>

Coral Banded with crabs 2/17/04
Thanx Anthony! I've decided not to put the Blood shrimp at risk. How about the crabs?
<sturdy crabs are likely safe with the CB shrimp... but few if any crabs are truly reef safe in the long run. I rarely recommend them if you intend to keep corals or polyps>
There's a lot of small hiding areas in my rock work so I'm hoping that will help. But I'd like your impute on it. Thanx again for you wonderful site!!
<thanks kindly, Anthony>

Coral Banded Question
Hi-<Hello, Ryan with you today.> -I read your CBS Q&As, and now I'm a little concerned. <About?> I just put a CBS in my 175 gal tank after reading they are peaceful additions, only to read that Ryan has had fish eaten by his shrimp. <I have.> How large a fish could he eat? <Mine ate a 2 inch firefish, caught it in the cave.> He's probably close to 2". <Mine was much larger, 6 inches from antenna to antenna.> Most of our fish are small: two small false Percula clowns (about 1 and a half inches), a strawberry Pseudochromis (about 2") a royal Gramma (also about 2") and a mandarin dragonet (about 3") and a two-inch coral beauty. Could he eat one of these? Would he/could he eat our red-legged hermit crabs? <Those are all much hardier and more defensive fish than a firefish...You should be safe.  But, monitor his behavior, and perhaps alert the pet shop that there's a chance he may be coming back.  Hermits should be safe as well.>
Another question: I have a yellow tang, about 3". As soon as I added the CBS to the tank, the tang went over to it and lay on its side. The shrimp appeared to bite him. Was he "cleaning"? <Yes, or attempting to.  I have seen my tang do this extensively with my Fire Shrimps.>
Also, we would like to get an anemone for our clownfish, but have read that one might eat our mandarin. Are there any anemones that would be safe with the mandarin? <Not a great idea, delicate fish really need a tank free of possible hazards.  I'd steer clear, and leave the anemone in the sea.  A Sarcophyton sp. may be a non-hazardous, easier to maintain substitute.  Good luck, Ryan>
Thanks for your help!! R/Janet

Coral Banded Assassin 10 April 2005
Hi Bob and crew, <Hi Pauline, MacL here with you today.>
I am having a problem with my coral banded shrimp, even although he is fed regularly with prawns he seems to want to catch every fish that passes him. I am aware that these shrimps can perform a cleaning function but this is no submissive shrimp wanting to pacify predatory fishes, he seeks out fishes and is practically chasing them all over the tank. <These guys do stake out territories and will chase other fish out of them but it sounds like yours has gotten a taste for fish and will have to be removed.>
He is quite large about 2 inch body and about 7 inches antenna to antenna. I have read in the excellent archives that these shrimps are not aggressive but he certainly is, so my question really is should I remove the shrimp or can he/she be pacified in some other way?? <In my experience, once they start chasing other fish in a predatory manner you need to get rid of them. I have kept many over the years and only had one behave in this manner so please don't judge them all by this one.>
I forgot to mention he has caught and killed a yellow tailed damsel and today I caught him with my newly purchased valentini puffer in his grasp. <Are you sure he caught it and killed it? Or did he just get it after the fish has passed? Regardless its best if you have doubts about him to just get him out of the tank.>
Another quick query, my sea urchin seems to be growing at an alarming rate, he has doubled in size in the space of three weeks. I am also feeding him prawns regularly, is this necessary? Or should I leave him to find his own food. <Sea urchins will do best finding their own foods.>

Coral Banded Shrimp Attacked My Anemone - 01/23/06
Greetings from cold, wet Indiana  (dreaming of our upcoming fall trip to Kauai)
<<Hello from slightly sloppy South Carolina  (I too am musing about a fall trip, but back to the Big Island)>>
I can't believe I have had my aquarium up and running for two years now and it is still alive and I haven't thrown it out the window (although there have been moments....)
<<?!>>
I am determined, if not lucky.  It has become a very interesting bio-diverse almost self-sustaining ecosystem.
<<Ah, well...that's good.>>
Most recently I have obtained a mated pair of Coral Banded Shrimp and they have taken up residence in a rock "cave".
<<neat>>
I have a beautiful Condylactis that is situated near enough to the opening of the cave that its tentacles float and wave at the opening.   Much to my dismay the male CBS seems intent on sparring with the Condy and actually pinched off part of a tentacle (the stinging portion) and ate it.
<<Hmm well, I do consider Stenopus hispidus to be one of the lesser reef-safe shrimp.>>   
The shrimp have plenty of food to eat so I don't think it's because he's hungry.   What kind of damage will this do to the Condy...can they sustain that sort of injury?
<<If the predation doesn't continue the anemone should recover just fine.>>
Isn't it poisonous or noxious to inverts?
<<Not all, everything has something that can/will eat it...anemones are no exception.>>
I've had the Condy eat inverts but not the other way around.  I've had the Condy for two years now and he has been very happy.  Don't want to lose him.  Haven't seen the shrimp pick on him lately but then I'm not watching 24/7.
<<Tis possible it was/will be an isolated incident, but like crabs, many shrimp are opportunistic omnivores and will grab a meal where they can.>>
Thanks for your help.
<<Not sure this was helpful...>>
Still dreaming of snorkeling in Kauai.....Janie
<<Some wondrous underwater sites indeed!  Regards, EricR>>

Coral Banded Shrimp Attacked My Anemone II - 02/08/06
Hello!
<<Hey there Janie!>>
Just had to follow up on the CBS.  He still pokes at the Condy from time to time but nothing vicious.
<<Excellent!>>
But....I  am so excited....I came home from work tonight and shined the flashlight in the tank just to make my bedtime check.
<<Something we all should do periodically...many more wonders to discover once the lights go out.>>
The shrimp were out and about as usual but I noticed the female doing an odd dance.  Upon further inspection she was raking her legs across her belly and expelling thousands of tiny little shrimp babies.
<<Neat!>>
It was amazing!  This is soooo cool!  How often do they do this?
<<Hmm, not sure...I would guess some 4-6 times a year maybe...the female carries the youngsters for a bit after hatching.  Do have a peek here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/shrimp/corlband.htm >>
I knew she was carrying eggs but I never expected to actually see them hatch.
<<Happens quite often really, though few actually witness the event as you did.  And I'm sure you're aware, the young shrimp are/will be 'relished' by most everything in the tank.>>
Well, just had to share.  There's never a dull moment in my aquarium.
<<Thank you for your input, EricR>>

Killer CBS  11/15/05
Hello. I have a rather unfortunate episode to report. After doing tons of research, I thought that the best fish to add to my 25g reef would be a pair of yellow clown gobies. All I had in there for livestock was a coral banded shrimp and a pair of clowns. I think you can probably guess the shrimp's reaction to the new additions. Within an hour he had caught and killed one of the tiny gobies.
<Yes...>
I am taking the other one back to the LFS today. Live and learn, I guess. I've heard that CBS are sometimes killers and sometimes completely peaceful. Mine just so happens to be massive, and I guess when he's just a bloodthirsty predator.
<Mmm, more likely just an opportunistic hungry one>
So to the question now, will this shrimp eat ANY fish smaller than him that he can catch?
<Yes... and not necessarily smaller>
For example, neon gobies? How about a yellow fin fairy wrasse (Cirrhilabrus flavidorsalis)?
<... this tank is full up fish-wise with just the two clowns...>
Hopefully I can compile a system including this amazing (but dangerous) shrimp. Any suggestions would be great, thanks.
<Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/arthropoda/shrimp/stenopus.htm and the linked files above... Bob Fenner>

Stenopus hispidus eating tank mates!?   3/16/06
Good morning crew,
<Andrea>
I have a query about an interesting claim someone has made about a Stenopus hispidus, but first some back ground info:
I used to look after this tank since it was built in 2002, 10 weeks ago I left the establishment and therefore the tank and a new aquarist has been brought in to tender its needs.  I must stress that this e-mail is in no way meant as a derogatory slur on the new aquarist, nor am I wishing to portray that the aquarists skills are not up for the job.  I feel that this is merely an unfortunate circumstance, one that is obviously very stressful on the new aquarist who has taken over a seemingly stable aquarium.
Tank age: 4 years
Tank size: 250g including miracle mud sump
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 0.5> ppm
Phosphate 0.1 ppm
pH 7.9 - 8.4
Temp 26 C
Salinity 33ppm
Inhabitants include:
1 x blue banded cleaner shrimp (the man in question) 3 x blood shrimps, 3 x white banded cleaner shrimps, 9 x peppermint shrimps 1 x sea apple (4 years old) 1 x sea cucumber (2 years old) 1 x red Caribbean brittle star (4 years old) 4 x common Anthias, 1 Caribbean blue tang Several SPS colonies, some large some tiny frags, several soft coral species and several button polyp species, and Discosoma sp.
The problem appears that all the fish have died rather suddenly (sea apple and cucumber alive and accounted for) and this is a result of the S. hispidus catching and eating the fish?
<Mmm, not in a short period of time, no>
I have had a good look around on the web and gone through my numerous books and have found no claims of this happening.
<Mmm, CBS will consume most anything, including fishes (generally during the night while resting/sleeping on the bottom)... if very hungry>
I do not believe that the aquarist witnessed the act in question, and can only presume that the aquarist has seen the shrimp merrily chomping away on the already dead remains of the once lively fish cohabiters.
<This is much more likely>
A few more fish were then added to the tank, (a mandarin and some kind of wrasse?) but met their ends rather quickly.
<Something else at play here. Could be poisoning from the cucumber... you could "test" this hypothesis by moving some of the water into another tank, place some test fish...>
During this time the corals have gone down hill, as far as I know non have yet released their zooxanthellae and non have bleached.  There is also a nasty covering of Cyanobacteria on the upper layers of the tank decor and corals.  I have also been informed that 'something happened' to the filtration, and the pump had to be replaced?
<... the pump?>
Water tests are now being done on the hour ever hour.  I think that the problems are due to technical difficulties or maintenance issues regarding the filtration system, that were not picked up on soon enough, or happened very suddenly over night.
<Something is definitely off...>
Poorly oxygenated water and lack of sufficient flow would explain the Cyanobacteria, and the corals closing up.  If the water wasn’t running through the filtration properly then sudden nutrient spikes and the lack of oxygen would also explain sudden fish die off.  But why are all the shrimps alive and could the s. hispidus really be the fish killer?
<I doubt it here>
Any out look on this would be gratefully received.
Best wishes
Andrea
<"Woman of the Sea"... a fitting name. Bob Fenner>

Coral Banded Shrimp/Compatibility   7/25/06
I had a quick question for you regarding my Coral Banded Shrimp.  I purchased a cleaner pack from Live Aquaria today and now realize it could be a problem because of the CBS.  It includes Scarlet Hermits and Dwarf Zebra Hermits.  Do you think that I should remove the CBS?
<The shrimp should be fine.  Also, do not believe Live Aquaria would provide a cleaner pack with incompatible animals.>
Thank you so much for the advice.
<You're welcome.  James (Salty Dog)>