12-02-2004, 08:48 AM
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#5 (permalink)
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Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 389
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% | I'm almost positive that they'll leave *healthy* vegetation alone. A while back, I got some erect moss and the Amano shrimp seemed to be devouring it mercilessly. At some point (before they ate every bit of it), they stopped. Then the new fronds grew out and the shrimp were keeping it very clean by picking away all traces of algae, but leaving the moss unharmed. Since then, I've had to move the shrimp into a different tank. I eventually had to move the moss in with them because it was getting tangled in algae. Those shrimp are now the only way I can keep it clean. So I'd have to guess that it's not the actual plant they're finding tasty, but maybe just the parts that are in poor health. Still, sometimes they'll start digging in before a plant has a chance to recover, and if that's the case, you might need to do something to protect the plant from the shrimp. You can try distracting them with Hikari Tropical Crab Cuisine. They'll always choose those pellets over anything else (although hair algae is a very close second with my guys).
-Naomi |
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