Cleaner Shrimp?

[Jolieve]

Today's big question: Am I ready to try some more inverts? I was considering... getting a pair of cleaner shrimp (scarlet cleaners, not peppermint or fire shrimp) today. I think they are neat animals and would make a nice first line of defense against ich... and even if they don't... who could pass up these little guys?

The tank is now three months old, most of the pest algaes are dying off. I am just waiting to see the hair algae go away completely before I add my first coral. The only livestock I have that might bug them, is my bossy pair of ocellaris, and my emerald crab. Any conflicts of interest there?

There are plenty of caves in the rock work for them to hide out in while getting comfortable and later on, while they are molting. Are there any other preparations that I need to make before I add the shrimp?

Also... would it be possible to mix the scarlet cleaners with a fire shrimp or two on down the road? If not, I'll just leave out the fire shrimp.

Thanks for the input!
J.

 

[Anonymous]

did someone say shrimp?

i think you will love your new shrimp addition, joli. and they shouldn't have any problems with your current inhabitants. my tank is home to 2 cleaners, 2 peps, 1 banded coral shrimp and 1 blood shrimp - i also have an emerald crab. i just love my shrimpies.

 

[klingsa]

I would add that cleaner shrimp don't always clean in the tank as they do in nature. I don't know if anyone else has witnessed the event, but I have not. Don't get me wrong, they're awesome little guys. I have three peppermints, and they're great!

I agree, they'll be fine with what you have. And I think that you'll be fine to add them now. I would be hesitant to mix different kinds, but that's not a very educated opinion, so I would encourage you to get another!

Good luck!
Sara

 

[Anonymous]

I and a few of my toher friends with tanks ave seen them clean. Also if you get them to take food from your hand they will clean you as well. Fun little guys they stay in the open alot. I have 1 cleaner, 1 coral banded, 2 emerald crabs and I think a few peppermints (I think I havent seen them since I put them in) I am pretty sure they are still there cause their larvea come out a few times a month and my fish get fat

 

[whiirly]

i have 2 cleaners with a fire and have never had
any problems. :lol: i have seen them clean but only
my big tang as they are to big to get on my other fishies.
have fun and enjoy
whiirly :lol:

 

[Reef_Monkey]

There is no excuse for the way I am about to behave.
----------
I was thinking about how the status symbols of today are those cell phones that everyone has clipped on. I can't afford one so I'm wearing my garage door opener.

Ohhh man that was funny!! :lol: It's so true too, that's why it's funny!!!

 

[Anonymous]

:mrgreen:

 

[Anonymous]

And if you get any two (or three, or four) individuals, they will constantly impregnate each other and release tiny larvae into the tank every two weeks or so assuming they are well fed. They're really great at finding and consuming any uneaten food real quickly as well.

 

[Jolieve]

Ah... the cleaner shrimp drama goes on....

I have in fact, purchased two cleaner shrimp. I got the first two acclimated, put them in the tank... within minutes, my emerald crab was standing up on a rock, looking like Arnold Schwarzenegger, then he hid up under the rock.. I walked over to the tank to figure out where he was, and the moment I did... he had grabbed one of the cleaner shrimp by his feelers and started pulling him under the rock and eating him!

So... I picked up the rock managed to separate the two, but it was too late... the cleaner was dead. The minute he hit the sand, my nassarius crawled all over him and I am waiting for them to bugger off before I pull the body from the tank.

Meanwhile... I attempted to catch the crab with a net... (yes, you may laugh now) and this.. failed. Thankfully... len was around to tell me to pull the rock from the tank... I did so, and dunked it in my saltwater prep bucket... and the crab popped right off. Returned rock to tank.. returned crab to LFS. LFS gave me credit for the crab... and replaced the cleaner shrimp. They are awesome down there.

Now, I have my third cleaner shrimp acclimating... the first is in the tank and doing well. He's found a great spot to hide out in under the rock, where the fish can't get him, but he can still be seen.

Farewell fair emerald mithrax crab... may you find a better home in someone else's tank.

J.

 

[CeeJay]

I am anti-crab!!!! no crabs allowes except the sally light foot crab who has not bothered anything. I will not buy any more crabs after owning one tiny little red scarlet reef crab. Poor little shrimp, but I am glad you got rid of the crab!!! Maybe you will be anti-crab with me now, no matter how pretty they might seem?

CJ

 

[Jolieve]

I was not anti crab before today... I do not want hermits, because I love my conchs and would like them to stay alive in the tank, so I have not put hermits in the tank. NKT suggested that I try the mithrax crab as an efficient method for the removal of hair and bubble algae. For the last two weeks, we have been wondering what the crab was living on because we did not see him eating hair or bubble algae... I can only guess that some of my nassarius have gone missing.

After today... I may have a hermit crab or two in a nano, instead of snails or other inverts. But I will never put another crab in my 75.

J.

 

[CeeJay]

Woooohoooooo Jolieve has seen the light, Amen Sister!

CJ put's on her Anti-Crab Reef Chicks shirt and gives Jolieve a great big hugggggg