Cleaner shrimp question
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Invertebrates
Forum Description: This is the place to ask questions about invertebrates.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=57751
Printed Date: May 18 2025 at 1:01pm
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Topic: Cleaner shrimp question
Posted By: Molli
Subject: Cleaner shrimp question
Date Posted: July 12 2012 at 7:17am
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Are fish pretty dependent upon cleaner shrimp to get rid of their dead scales, etc.? I am not wanting to increase my bioload in my tank because everything is doing so great right now. I have lots of live rock, many softies, hermit crabs, a variety of snails, 2 clown fish, 1 royal gamma and a major bloom of pods! Gosh the royal gamma seems to be enjoying himself going after the pods. Thus, I am at the point where although I would love to add more fish, I am not going to do so. But if I should add a cleaner shrimp to my CUC I will. If anyone has any other suggestions for any additions to my CUC, feel free to mention. |
Replies:
Posted By: chuckfu
Date Posted: July 12 2012 at 7:22am
| No, fish do not need cleaner shrimp. How big is your tank? What about a conch, cucummber? |
Posted By: Molli
Date Posted: July 12 2012 at 7:25am
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I only have a Biocube29, but they really don't even hold 29 gallons and some of the water is in the back where the filter, etc. is. Also I have about 37 pounds of live rock, which is also taking up water space! |
Posted By: jason10012
Date Posted: July 12 2012 at 10:20am
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I've had a cleaner shrimp in my 95g tank for a little while now and I still have yet to see any of my fish, 2 clowns, red fire fish, royal gamma, foxface lo, stop anywhere near it long enough for the shrimp to do anything. ------------- 30 gallon nano |
Posted By: tfmreefs
Date Posted: July 12 2012 at 11:57am
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I have a 65 gallon and i see it happen at least once a day. Also when i get done feeding the snowflake eel the shrimp hops on its face and cleans it. The eel just opens its mouth and stits there. Very weird.. And every time that happens i fear for the shrimp, but nothing has happened yet! all the fish in my tank just swim up to it randomely and it hops on them:) ------------- "The early bird might get the worm, but only the second mouse gets the cheese." |
Posted By: Molli
Date Posted: July 14 2012 at 2:29pm
| Well I just bought a cleaner shrimp. I hope my fish will stop by! |
Posted By: rize2
Date Posted: July 14 2012 at 3:30pm
| Just give it some time. At first all my shrimp did was hide. Now my cleaner shrimp always seems to be hanging out with one fish or another. Unless my hand is in my tank, then it just wants to hop on that. |
Posted By: troyholl
Date Posted: July 14 2012 at 4:28pm
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I don't see my 3 cleaner shrimp with any fish too often, but a few nights ago two of them took a ride around the tank on my large Sailfin Tang... and they kept busy cleaning them as he swam around and they held on! ------------- Troy Hollingsworth Riverton, Utah 270 Gallon "Custom" Tank |
Posted By: Molli
Date Posted: July 18 2012 at 8:21am
| Thought I'd give an update about my cleaner shrimp that I purchased on Saturday. He hid the rest of the day Saturday (along with my Royal Gamma). Came out for food Sunday and hid again. Royal Gamma stopped hiding Sunday. Shrimp stopped hiding on Monday. Since Monday, I have decided that cleaner shrimp must be the most patient animals in the ocean. He and my two clown fish are doing some sort of getting to know you routine. The cleaner shrimp will stay for hours on his "station" and the clown fish will swim up close to him and let him put his tentacles on them and then they swim away. Then they return again in a few seconds. I have watched this "dance" occur for a couple of hours Monday and Tuesday nite. The royal gamma is trying to join in the fun, but he doesn't get as close to the shrimp .. just stays in the general area of the tank while this dance is going on. I'm hoping that soon I'll see the shrimp cleaning my clowns! Oh these clowns are juveniles and were captive bred so they have never experienced a shrimp before. |
Posted By: tfmreefs
Date Posted: July 18 2012 at 10:50am
------------- "The early bird might get the worm, but only the second mouse gets the cheese." |
tfmreefs wrote:Posted By: Nails12
Date Posted: July 18 2012 at 3:14pm
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My shrimp kept hiding until i introduced another to the tank, but i hardly see them clean the fish.... ------------- This is more than a hobby; its a lifestyle. |