Blackcap Basslet

[Newportreefer]

I brought home two med. to Lg Scarlet cleaner shrimp. The tank already had a large Black cap, a Bicolor Blenny, Yellow Tang and a Six-line wrasse. Shortly after introducing the cleaner shrimp I noticed that the largest one had its antennae greatly reduced and several legs missing. I never caught it being attacked by the basslet but suspect it of the damage. The smaller cleaner shrimp appeared okay but the day it disappeared. The larger lived a couple days with the missing appendages and then also disappeared.

http://mynewportreef.blogspot.com/

 

[tazdevil]

The six line wrasse would be my first suspect, I had a similar experience and it was in a tank with a six line, royal gramma, and a cherub angel.

 

[Anonymous]

My blackcap hasn't touched my 3 pepermints. I don't know about cleaners though. I would second the six line though.

Have you checked for mantis/pistol shrimp?

B

 

[Newportreefer]

I am pretty sure there are no mantis shrimp or pistol shrimp in the tank. The six line is fairly small but I guess it could do that kind of damage. I have had six lines with peppermints before and they did not do any harm to them. I wish I could have seen what did the attacking. I have not been able to keep any shrimp in this tank. There are other crustaceans but not shrimp. The culprit does not bother any of the hermits or emerald crabs.
Would you suggest I return the Sixline to the LFS?

 

[Len]

Sixlines are mean SOBs IME. I'd probably give this fish up so I can keep other similar-bodied species.

 

[camaroracer214]

i have a royal gramma basslet that i saw being aggressive toward my skarlet cleaner shrimp. it didn't eat any legs, or attack or anything, but it was harassing the shrimp. but luckily it has stopped now.

also, from what i've seen with six line wrasses is that they'll either kill or harass anything that is added to the tank after they have been established.

 

[tazdevil]

camaroracer214 posted:

i have a royal gramma basslet that i saw being aggressive toward my skarlet cleaner shrimp. it didn't eat any legs, or attack or anything, but it was harassing the shrimp. but luckily it has stopped now.

That could have been a form of a "holing dispute", the royal gramma may have declared an area as it's cave, and the scarlet cleaner made the mistake of crossing a line in the sand so to speak. I've had a small one go after two scarlet cleaner shrimp, that approached "his cave" from different positions. The RG did the whole fins flared, open mouth yawn display, then did some darting attacks until the shrimp move to different spots. Things remained relatively calm after that.


A six line may consider the shrimp as a meal. As that's a natural food source (shrimp in general) for wrasses.