Cleaner shrimp = snail predator?

[random]

So, wondering if this is common:
Searching for new critters after lights-out, and saw a full grown stomatella moving even faster than usual. Seems it was fleeing for its life; the cleaner shrimp leaped out & grabbed/wrestled with it, then 'picked' it to death right in front of us! Shocking!

Population control is important, yes, but didn't know that these Cleaners would "take care of" things that size.

Is this why I've been seeing a lot of tail-less stomatella & (new) empty collonista shells around?
Is he starving/do we need to feed him more? or maybe just be glad that he's keeping the tank from being overrun?

(And why won't he get rid of some of those HUGE & overly abundant amphipods, while he's at it?!)

Thanks in advance for the feedback!

[Elegance Coral]

I never trust anything that wares its skeleton on the outside. Shrimp, crab, lobster. They're all opportunistic. They will capture, kill, and eat what ever they can.

[ChrisPrusha]

I've never seen any of my cleaner shrimp eat anything but flake food.

[bb0029]

A total shot in the dark here but after reading your post I started to do a little research. Everything I have found is that they do not "hunt" snails but they will take the opportunity to nip at one and if one is weak, dying or dead they will jump on the opportunity for a easy meal. I don't think they are predators per say but really smart scavengers if that makes since.

[fox2589]

i used to have a huge population of strometalla vera..and now i do not LOL..i used to see my cleaner eating them all the time..-drew

[random]

Originally Posted by Elegance Coral

I never trust anything that wares its skeleton on the outside.

Good rule of thumb; I'll have to remember. Had blue-legged hermits from the beginning with 0 probs, & a growing population of big stomatella, until we got this critter.

Originally Posted by ChrisPrusha

I've never seen any of my cleaner shrimp eat anything but flake food.

Ours does, too, very enthusiastically! It does the whole 'walking on air/upside down water bug' thing & makes a couple laps to get the flakes. So, we thought he was getting enough to eat...

Originally Posted by bb0029

A total shot in the dark here but after reading your post I started to do a little research. Everything I have found is that they do not "hunt" snails but they will take the opportunity to nip at one and if one is weak, dying or dead they will jump on the opportunity for a easy meal.

He probably got weak from having his tail eaten off Knew they're fast, but this was way beyond reg speed...not nearly as fast as the shrimp, though, so I see your point.

Originally Posted by fox2589

..i used to see my cleaner eating them all the time..-drew

Guess that's ok, as long as the shrimp thrives? Paid for the shrimp, but got its current snacks for free. It can stay in the tank till it starts munching on an investment