Can Spaghetti worms kill?

[fredro]

Came home this afternoon to see my cleaner shrimp in 2 pieces in the corner with a spaghetti worm pulling his torso to the sand. if not, what else could have killed the shrimp? the tank has been stable for a few months now and he has been happily living in the tank for about a month and a half. thanks

 

[Harif87]

ive never heard of spaghetti worms killing... and to think one could snap a shrimp in half???? id have to see that to belive it... but what else do you have in your tank?

 

[vinny]

are you sure he didnt shed? because my peppermint shrimps shed before

 

[fredro]

he molted last month, nowhere to be seen. tank contains 2 damsels and a clarki clown, none of which have ever shown agression toward the shrimp.
ps.46 bow 65 lbs rock, 10 hermits, 20 snails, misc corals

 

[meschaefer]

are you sure he didnt shed? because my peppermint shrimps shed before

That is my first thought. How long have you had the shrimp. They usually shed very quickly after first being introduced to the tank, and then shed regulary -every few months.

 

[fredro]

i'm sure he died for other reasons and that after that the worms found him and enjoyed the meal, i was just throwing it out there that it may have been a possiblilty. i know copper can kill shrimp, but anything else i might look into?

 

[fredro]

anyone?

 

[leoskee]

Maybe you have a hitchiker in the tank that you dont know about. How long was the shrimp in the tank?

 

[Harif87]

Is the shrimp that you found hollow? If so its a moult. I remember finding my first moult of my FW cray, i was so pissed, then i realized he was in his cave.... i would keep any eye out for him.

The fact that you found it in 2 pieces makes me think it was a moult. Also if your alk is high then your shrimp will moult more often.

 

[fredro]

shrimp is nowhere to be found in the tank, and last month when he molted he was hiding the week before as is common, no signs that molting may occur, plus im almost poositive the carcass is not hollow, the spaghetti worms are all over it and so are the snails. i haven't added anything to the tank in weeks so i highly doubt the possiblilty of a deadly hitchhiker.

 

[fredro]

ok this is strange, i was looking around, there's a molted shell and then his body, almost like he was killed in the middle of molting. strange.

 

[Harif87]

snails will be all over it no matter what it is.... if its organic theyll eat it (almost always)

 

[ReeferGoneMad]

is he old. How big was the shrimp when you purchased him. Nothing last forever. I say he's either old or it was attacked during its molting cycle. The only reason I say If he's old is because it takes a lot of energy to molt and old cleaners could die in the process. Other than that I can't say unless you have a hitchhicker.

 

[fredro]

he wasn't too big when i got him, a month and a half ago, i'm unsure of the lifespan of a shrimp but i'd say he was not old by any means.

 

[Harif87]

well right when they moult theyre soft for the next week or so which means that theyre prone to major injury during that time. A falling coral frag or rock piece could have done it too

 

[fredro]

ok now im really wondering.... i got home to find about 8 little red legs scattered under a ledge in my tank, the obvious remains of a scarlet hermit. WHAT IS KILLING MY INVERTS!

 

[Harif87]

mantis shrimp?

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

OK here is the question of the day, What other livestock is in that tank?

 

[Harif87]

Thats quite the question...

he molted last month, nowhere to be seen. tank contains 2 damsels and a clarki clown, none of which have ever shown agression toward the shrimp.
ps.46 bow 65 lbs rock, 10 hermits, 20 snails, misc corals