scarlet shrimp loves finger leather, not reciprocated

[krullulon]

my scarlet cleaner shrimp have decided to take-up residence on my finger leather... they don't harass it, they just like to perch there. they're currently the kings of the tank (no fish yet) and so they like to sit where they can survey the most territory, and the leather gives them a great vantage point.

problem is, of course, that the finger doesn't love them in return and isn't opening its polyps when they're squatting, which is most of the day.

i don't want to do anything if it isn't necessary, but was wondering if it's cool to just sit-back and not intervene.

thanks!

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[Ben1]

Finger leathers can be a bit touchy. Don't know if the shrimp is the only reason its not open though. Is it only closed when they are on it and reopens after they get off of it?

Are you using any P02 removers. Some P02 has alluminum oxide in it which can cuase certain corals (generally sacrophyton) to stay closed.

 

[krullulon]

nope, no chemicals... and it's only closed when they're loafing on it and then opens back up. they just don't want to leave!

 

[Ben1]

You could try some type of basket over the coral to prevent them from perching on it. Or getting a fish to perter them into hidding in the rockwork more! If the coral is bothered all day by them perching there you may consider moving them to the sump.

 

[DaisyPolyp]

I don't know how big your tank is, but a tang doing a few fly-bys on the shrimp would keep them at bay. :wink:

 

[krullulon]

thanks all!

latest news: i moved the finger leather a few inches toward the center of the tank into a more exposed area hoping that the shrimp might not want to be quite so exposed... but no, they continued pursuit!

but!

the night of the move the leather developed a shiny appearance and had no polyp extension... a few hours later, the shiny coating sloughed-off like a molt and the shrimp were all over it pulling the coating off and eating it -- and then the leather fully extended its polyps and i discovered that it had increased in size and added what appears to be the proto-nubs of 2 new "fingers"!

the shrimp seem to have lost interest in it for now... i wonder if they were responding to whatever the sloughing event was? is that possible?

 

[Ben1]

Yes leathers will typically shed a skin when they have to much algae build up. This is a way of keeping there outside tissue clean. If you have it in higher current they will do this much less often.

At least the shrimp moved on!

 

[krullulon]

ah, that explains it!

i'm glad the shrimp have reached a truce with the leather -- i couldn't banish them to the sump, they're way too cool.