[msbdiving]

Yesterday I got the bad news that my skunk cleaner shrimp of at least 6mo. was in pieces. It was fairly large (approx 4") and had molted within the last 2 weeks. I just got permission to get two more and when I put them in the tank, I noticed the six-line wrasse poking a few times at it. The wrasse is still relatively small (1.5") and the new cleaner shrimp are about 2.5in long. It seems to be leaving it alone for the moment but I will keep watch over it. Anyone hear of this happening?

[e_baer]

perhaps it was one of the other shrimp that had molted....are you sure you dont still have 3 shrimp?

[msbdiving]

Yeah, the other two peppermint shrimp have disappeared over the last few months. The last time I saw one was about two weeks ago. My wife ID'd the dead one as a confirmed. Even by it's name (Brian), she also said it didn't look like molt but really thick like. I took a closer look at the new cleaner shrimp that it was picking on and it was the fat one I picked out. Could be thinking some little babbies might be coming along soon and trying to get an easy meal.

[Mattfish]

Our 6-line is very passive and gets along fine with the shrimp - we have peppermint and cleaners. What we did find killing our shrimp were the emerald crabs. I saw one literally tear apart a fire shrimp - it happened right in front of my eyes and I couldn't get in to stop it in time.

We're convinced that our emerald crabs are the work of the devil and have killed several shrimp. Strangely, they haven't hurt the camel shrimps - we have two.

Unless you've seent he 6-line being aggressive (and I'm far, far from knowledgeable), I'd look towards crabs if you have any.....

[e_baer]

also, if you have a purple pseudo. they are shrimp assassins! i had added like 6 shrimp at various times to my tank, and they wouldall disapear. then one day i had dropped my shrimp in and BOOM it was like jaws attacking a helpless person.

[msbdiving]

I keep my tank clear of crabs so I don't think it is that. I would suspect a chromis if I had one. I got rid of my yellow damsel about six months ago or more because it killed my last cleaner when it was molting. Gonna have the wife keep an eye on it today since I am at work and will let you all know if anything happens. I suspect it was just old age since the thing was huge.

[e_baer]

yeah, that could also be the problem.

[rlcline76]

Guys, I have to say that if the 6 line has been witnessed being aggressive that it is more than likely the 6 line. I have done a little reading online and although 6 lines are generally peaceful and quite useful in the tank, they have been known to go after shrimp, small shy fish and urchins.