Royal Gramma eating shrimp?

K

Kelly

I've had my Royal Gramma for about three years. He's always been a model citizen. With an Aiptasia outbreak, I've bought upwards of 8 peppermint shrimp in the last six months and they keep disappearing. I thought for sure it was my Halichoeris Iridis, and got him a new home a couple weeks ago.
With the Radiant wrasse gone, I added a peppermint shrimp...Gone in two days folks. I got curious about what other fish it could be.
I searched and found several accounts on reefcentral and 3reef of people claiming their Royal Gramma which is a "reef safe" fish, ate peppermint shrimp, and cleaners, and other ornamental shrimp as well.

So, just for kicks, Has anyone here ever had a Royal Gramma consume ornamental shrimp?
My other tank inhabitants: Amphiprion ocellaris var., Cirrhilabrus Lubbocki, Valenciennea puellaris, Paracheilinus mccoskeri, and Macropharyngodon negrosensis.

Thanks for looking, and I look forward to someone sharing a similar account.
 
Is there a chance they are just hiding out? I've peppermints that I would not see for months at a time until I saw them bouncing along with some food at night going back to their caves.
 
@MBSL55 wrote:
Is there a chance they are just hiding out? I've peppermints that I would not see for months at a time until I saw them bouncing along with some food at night going back to their caves. said:
That would be pretty funny, this little unknown cave oasis full of perment shrimp in your tank
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I've looked pretty well. It's only a 36"X18" tank. I'm quite sure something is eating them. I really believe its my gramma, I was hoping someone on here had the same experience once.
If you asked me a few days ago, I would have said "No way is a Royal Gramma eating shrimp".
But, here we are.
 
Oh yes, definitely. I got my Royal Gramma in 2008 and he is very territorial! He doesn't like to share. I put in two peppermint shrimp and found them trying to hide behind the in-tank filter. He kept chasing after them and keeping them away from his rock. Then one day he caught one and ate half of it. So, i took the other one out and moved it to another safer tank. No more shrimp tank mates for him....just hermits.
 
@Sherman wrote:
[I]@MBSL55 wrote:[/I][quote="Is there a chance they are just hiding out? I've peppermints that I would not see for months at a time until I saw them bouncing along with some food at night going back to their caves. said:
That would be pretty funny, this little unknown cave oasis full of perment shrimp in your tank"]

Yup, they had a favorite rock pile with twisty caves. First time I've seen them in months . . . again. When I recently took the tank down three of them were still in there. I have no idea where they went in the new tank.

@Kelly - Sorry to hear it didn't work out. At least it'll get a good home.
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