Wrasse ate my cleaner shrimp

[paddyob]

So the other day I see a few antennae from my cleaner shrimp in various parts of my tank. I think molt. Then I notice my melanurus wrasse staying mostly concealed in the rocks. Fat as a pig.

I feed the tank. He ignores every pellet.

I'm not 100% he did it. But the shrimp has not come out of hiding so I assume it's been eaten as suspected.

Anyone else had this happen?

[Coralgurl]

I find my shrimp usually do hide after a molt as they are vulnerable due to softer shells. I'd give it some time....

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by Coralgurl

I find my shrimp usually do hide after a molt as they are vulnerable due to softer shells. I'd give it some time....

I know they hide. But based on my experiences with molting, it's not molt.

[Coralgurl]

That sucks then

[reefwars]

Wrasses eat shrimps, melanarus included , if the timing is right why not take an easy meal molts make for less work for the fish as they don't need to smash its Body and the shrimp are to sore to defend them selves .

Def sucks but can happen worse is now he prob knows them as food.

Melanarus usually go for smaller food but they can sometimes eat larger shrimp , I'm sure mine ate a small cleaner as well so no more shrimps for me

[Myka]

A Melanurus Wrasse eating a decorative shrimp, crab, snail, hermit crab, or other invertebrate is perfectly normal - and expected.