Coral Banded Shrimp TKO's Porcupine Puffer

[madrefkepr]

One of the more bizarre things I have been watching lately is my coral banded shrimp terrorizing my porcupine puffer. Chases him around all day long. The puffer doesn't seem too bothered by him, except in the couple of instances the CBS has actually managed to grab hold of a spine. The puffer usually just shakes him off in short order.

Tonight though, the CBS got a good hold, with both front claws. I walk in the room to find the puffer all puffed up, desparately trying to shake the shrimp. Took a good 15 - 20 seconds or so to succeed, then deflated and resumed his usual casual demeanor.

My CBS is about as big as I have seen, and my puffer is only about 4" long. I wouldn't have thought so, but could the shrimp actually do any real damage to the puffer? Thanks!

 

[liquid]

I'm guessing probably not. At least I've never heard of them doing any damage.

Shane

 

[monkeyboy]

Don't forget that CBS are actually a cleaner shrimp. If the puffer doesn't look too freaked out after puffing, he may just be making it easier for the shrimp to do his thang.

Just a thought.

 

[monkeyboy]

Ew, reread the post. Yeah, he may in fact be trying to bother it. I'm very suprised that the puffer doesnt just turn around and chomp the thing!

 

[Anonymous]

Me too, but if you're worried about damage to the puffer you can nip off the claws, they'll regenerate (personally, I'd do just one).

 

[madrefkepr]

I'm very suprised that the puffer doesnt just turn around and chomp the thing!

Me too! The only thing the puffer has nipped at are snails and hermits, and it's not big enough yet to get through the shell.

I know the CBS is a cleaner, and have been wondering if that explains the behavior. Could the shrimp be mistaking the spines for some kind of parasite? I also have a cleaner shrimp that the puffer visited quite often when I first got it, but hasn't now for quite some time. It was quite a sight to see the cleaner shrimp hanging half way out of the puffers's mouth, and the puffer loving every minute of it. I always expected the big CHOMP!

SM - Interesting idea, about removing the claws. I prefer to let nature do what nature does. I figure if the puffer gets to bothered too much, he'll have himself a shrimp dinner. :twisted:

 

[AngelMaster]

Snip a claw! man that's mean

My coral shrimp is like King Lazy, he never cleans anything. Although he is apparently in love with the turkey baster i use to feed. it's funny, if I hold the baster outside the tank and move it from one side to the other, he frantically swims after it against the glass.

Mine's not very big at the moment but I hear they get more aggressive as they get bigger. how often are you feeding. I find over-feeding my boxer in relation to the other guys goes a long way to quelling these behaviors. makes him tame as a pussycat. Mine wont even bother my corals even though they're supposedly known for doing so as long as I keep him on the King Fatty diet. he just sits there on his rock, rubbing his little shrimp beer-belly.

The over-feeding is probably why mine cleans about as much as my wife does. Maybe I need to start starving the wife

 

[shalegac]

Angelmaster,
I hope your wife doesn't frequent this board! :lol:

 

[TomH]

FYI -- Something to be aware of. . .

From www.wetwebmedia.com

Behavior: Territoriality


Fish tankmates almost always shy away from interacting with puffers, somehow knowing their unpalatability or outright poisonesness. One exception that should be avoided are cleaner gobies, shrimp (or Labroides wrasses should you use them). Incessant pecking at their sensitive hides is too much, even by tiny Gobiosoma.

 

[AngelMaster]

Hehe Nah

I'm sure she prefers to gripe about my laziness over at Oprah and Dr. Phil's website

I keep the fact I frequent this board a secret. When people ask me how I know so much I just nod wisely and smile cryptically, sometimes following this I will laugh maniacally.

To be fair, I'm probably lazier :wink:

 

[madrefkepr]

AngelMaster - I feed 3 times a day, and the CBS eats plenty. He is pretty fat for a shrimp.

TomH - Thanks for the info. I suppose it might be a territorial behavior, although it doesn't seem to care about any of the other fish. Maybe the puffer is the only one that swims slow enough for him to catch. Then only if it sneaks up on the puffer.

Another thought: maybe the cbs knows it should be dinner, and thinks if it shows the puffer it is a bada$$ it will leave him alone?