African Clown Eats Cleaner Shrimp

[Marlize01]

Hi All

This morning my cleaner Shrimp molted. He climbed down the rocks and walked on the sand, next thing the African clown crabs him and ate him

What could the reason be?

We had both for a couple of months without any problems!!!

 

[459b]

The shrimps shell is soft right after molting so its an easy meal for the fish

 

[RiaanP]

Freshly moulted and the exo skin most likely was still soft.
Early morning snack for the clown.

I had a clown take out a hermit when it moulted.

 

[Marlize01]

Thanks for the info... Still so sad to see my poor shrimp being eaten.

 

[Willie85]

So what do you guys do to prevent this? @RiaanP @459b

 

[459b]

Shrimps normally hide for a few days after molting so their new shell to harden. Its odd for one to crawl around in the open so soon after molting