Shrimp Attack

Yesterday I was watching one of my common BN fry grazing on the glass in front of me. He was about 1/2" (1.5cm) long. One of my 2" (5cm) egg-bearing grass shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosus) swam by him then quickly made a sharp turn and pounced on him like a jumping spider. The shrimp peeled him off the glass holding him with several legs and swam off into some plants. I used a plastic rod to disturb the shrimp and she finally let go. It was too late for the little pleco though. Although he was able to move, he could keep himself righted and drifted off into some plants. I put several of these $.33 shrimp in my tank to provide my tank with a custodial service. They do a great job of keeping it clean but I didn't know they would prey on my fry. Lesson learned!

its not unheard of, but very rare. the larger shrimp will take any chance they can get to have a free feed. small bristlenose are very easy prey.

I might also suspect that the small bristlenose may have been weaker already, hence the shrimp went for it.

Wow sorry to hear mate. Almost makes me second guess all the Darwin Algae shrimp I have in my bn breeding tank. For all I know they could be picking off fry

I had never heard of that, but it makes sense what Doug says. I shall second guess shrimping up my tanks now... just had never thought of it before, but the little fry are so fragile when first born and yes they would be easy prey.

well, just to mention, that I keep shrimp in all my tanks and never seen one take on a live fry, they will quickly dispose of the dead ones though.