peppermint shrimp having a go at sand sifter

[davesafc]

just seen my sand sifter surfaced and the pepp was having a right go at it, do they normally do this?, one of its arms is chewed at the end.

 

[Anonymous]

I need to know more about your tank. Tank parameters? How old is your tank?

If you didn't have enough nutrients in the sand to support your sand sifter, you may have starved it to death. Shrimp will detect decay from an animal and start the process of eating it.

I really need more info though.

 

[davesafc]

tank is about 5 weeks running everything apart from the sand was transfered over from old tank, all paras are fine sg is 1.026, i did ask my lfs how i could remove the brown algea on my sand and they told me a sifter but i was unsure if my tank was old enough and they said it was fine.
one of its arms was already damaged but i was told it would grow back and got it discounted as is was the last one.
tank is 200l with 60l sump, 20kg live rock
in it i have 1 foxface, 1 banggai cardinal, 2 common percs, 1 scopas tang, 4 hermits (red legged) 10 turbo snails, 1 cleaner shrimp and 2 pepps. and a few soft corals.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure about the foxface but the other tank mates should be fine. I think you might have jumped the gun on stocking it though. The sand was from an established tank?

I think the LFS discounted a sick fish. How long have you been having the goby (sandsifter)? Can you return him for warranty?

 

[davesafc]

the foxface is fine very peaceful, and the sand was the only new thing in the tank (i did tell this to the lfs) and is a sandsifting starfish a goby? this has been in the tank for 2 days and as for the warranty i will defo find out!

 

[Anonymous]

the foxface is fine very peaceful, and the sand was the only new thing in the tank (i did tell this to the lfs) and is a sandsifting starfish a goby? this has been in the tank for 2 days and as for the warranty i will defo find out!

You didn't specify star fish. I have a sandsifting goby (fish). I do have a brittle star that's a sandsifter. I'm not sure about the cause of his demise but I would definately call the LFS for warranty.

 

[davesafc]

your right i didnt specify sorry but ty for your help anyway.

 

[Anonymous]

your right i didnt specify sorry but ty for your help anyway.

No problem.

HTH'd

 

[Anonymous]

just seen my sand sifter surfaced and the pepp was having a right go at it, do they normally do this?, one of its arms is chewed at the end.

They only chew on dead tissue, he was doing what is normal for a cleaner shrimp to do. Good for the shrimp, bad news I am afraid for the starfish. Unfortunately, the fact your sand sifting star has a ragged leg is not a good sign. They are heavy feeders, and I am afraid your new tank may not have had enough nutrition to support it. They tend to literally fall apart (loosing part of or whole arms) at a rapid pace before they die so I would keep an eye on him. Be prepared to remove it if it deteriorates so it doesn't foul the tank.

 

[davesafc]

but the star has only been in the tank for 2 days surely it cant have eaten everything by now?, and its the peppermint that was eating it not the cleaner. its left it alone now and the star has went back under the sand, ill keep an eye on it and see what happens, ty.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh, then maybe it was hurt in transit and it's simply an ordinary injury but do bear in mind what I and cvp7900 said about them starving.

 

[shavo]

Hey my camel back shrimp was eating off my sandsifter every time it surfaced too, it really beat it up, i took the camel back out and the sand sifter is fine now 2 weeks later.

just thought you might want to know