Amano shrimp attacking Nerite snail???

I just looked into my tank and saw one of my Amano shrimp trying to pry open my Nerite snail. I didn't think that shrimp ate snails... Does this mean that my Nerite is dead and the shrimp is just scavenging? Has anyone seen anything like this before?

 

If the snail is still alive it may be because the shrimp is starving. Are you feeding it and is it getting enough algae to eat? If the nerite is dead maybe it is scavenging but that still sounds off for amanos and I've never seen mine do it when I had them.

 

I agree. I've had ghosts pick on nerites before, but they're more carnivorous than Amanos. Amanos often can't survive solely on algae in the tank if there isn't enough of it; are you supplementing with any other foods?

 

Yeah I've been feeding them (and other members of the tank) a variety of foods, including flakes, algae wafers, blood worms, brine shrimp, and shrimp pellets. So I don't think the shrimp would be starving... It seems like super bizarre behavior. At this point in time the shrimp has moved away from the Nerite who is upside down with the trapdoor open 1/3 of the way.

 

I'm pretty sure Amanos are mostly vegetarian, but I've never kept them, so I'm not certain. If so, then all of the foods you are feeding are high in protein, which may not be what they're looking for...but then again, I'm pretty sure snails aren't vegetables, so who knows

 

I don't thnk the Amano was attacking your snail, probably it was just picking off debris from the snail. Amanos are algae eaters and sometimes eat soft plants.

I've never heard of Amano attacking a snail or any shrimps attacking snails.

 

There isn't a chance shrimp could open up a snails trap door.

 

So when I checked on the snail this morning it was definitely dead (which I confirmed by smelling it) My guess is that it was dead last night and, like AmazonPassion was saying, the Amano was just trying to get any algae it could find growing on the snail. Since the snail wasn't alive the shrimp was able to look for algae on/around the trapdoor.

It hadn't occurred to me that the foods I was feeding were too high in protein for my shrimp. Any suggestions about what I should add for them?

 

The only thing I can think of is trying finding zucchinis, cucumbers, and spirulina veggie flakes

 

I will put in a zucchinI slice tonight when I get home. Poor guys, I hope they haven't been starving since I got them. I think I figured between the algae in the tank and the food I feed they would have enough. But I didn't consider that they might not like the majority of what I've been offering them. Thanks for the help!

 

The only thing I can think of is trying finding zucchinis, cucumbers, and spirulina veggie flakes

Be careful with the Spirulina flakes/wafers. I bought some OSI Spirulina wafers that are something like 45% protein. Read the ingredients

 

I'll make sure to do that. Thanks for the tip!

 

I bought spirulina tablets from central market (was there looking for pizza dough and stuff to put on it and walked out with food for bamboo shrimp) and it is 100% spirulina. Nothing added, not even to bind it. The brand is called Now. paid $7 for 100 tablets. I think most vitamin stores I think carry the tablets and it just melts away into the water. The shrimp stand over it and my danios like to peck at it

EDIT: only 4% protein from 6 tablets

 

It is important not to overfeed pure spirulina. Overfeeding can cause Vitamin A toxicity and kill your fish. I do feed my fish Pure spirulina from time to time but I make sure I limit the amounts fed. Just a heads up

 

It is important not to overfeed pure spirulina. Overfeeding can cause Vitamin A toxicity and kill your fish. I do feed my fish Pure spirulina from time to time but I make sure I limit the amounts fed. Just a heads up

I was planning on putting one tablet in every 2 weeks to give a boost until I get some ottos to do clean up. then I'll have to put the tablet into the cave so they get it to themselves