Lost My Anemone, Suspecting My Peppermint Shrimp – Need Advice

[ronald2695]

I got my peppermint shrimp about 3 months ago, and when I first added it to my tank, my anemone looked happy and healthy I even took a picture on my phone to remember the moment. But a while later, my anemone started to shrink, ball up, detach itself, and move around constantly. I couldn't figure out what was causing this, so I reduced the lights and water flow, but nothing helped. All of my water parameters were stable, and I hadn’t made any changes to the tank.

The last time I saw my anemone, it was small, round, and sitting in the sand. Yesterday, I did a thorough cleaning of the tank and checked all the rocks and the filter system, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. Now, I suspect my peppermint shrimp might have been the cause.

I’ve had the anemone for almost 2 years, and I’m really sad about losing it. I’m not sure what to do with the shrimp now or if it’s truly responsible. Has anyone else had a similar experience with a peppermint shrimp and an anemone? Any advice on what I should do next?

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I've never heard of a shrimp bothering an anemone to death. Usually, it's the anemone eating the shrimp. Usually, when an anemone detaches itself and bounces around, it means it's stressed and not happy. What were the water parameters in your tank? Has there been anything else showing signs of stress in your tank?

 

[James M]

Were you feeding the anemone ?

 

[troublemaker]

When my aptasia we done, one of my Peppermints started tearing tentacles off of a Bubble Tip, so it’s not impossible if they got the taste for something they like.

 

[Stevorino]

When my aptasia we done, one of my Peppermints started tearing tentacles off of a Bubble Tip, so it’s not impossible if they got the taste for something they like.

I have had a similar experience, not with anemones, but with corals

Broke down a tank to get’em out