Baby Cleaner Shrimps still alive after 10 days

[ReefFan]

I was looking closely at the front corner of my tank that has a large 10 inch tall Purple Tip Nem with its stalk planted exactly in that corner. I was checkin out all the plating type of Coralline Algae that was growing in this low flow area, when i noticed some small things swimming around. I wouldve never noticed them if it wasnt for that huge white trunk of the Anenome, cuz the white background caused a contrast, it was obvious there was some kind of baby shrimp swimming around in this safe refuge.

To make a long story short there were 20-30 baby Cleaner Shrimp, some larger than the others, but they were all very active and i know they are at least 10 days old cuz two weeks ago I noticed something on the under belly of one of my Cleaners. A few days later, all three looked the same again. So i figured either it was my imagination that one was carrying eggs, or they hatched and had no chance in that tank with all the fish looking for live meals. But there it was plain as day. This secluded low flow zone in the side of the tank is a place the fish dont enter because of the Anenome and small crevaces leading back there. I guess all the live phyto, rotis and oyster eggs have helped them live and start to grow because theres no way the mother would be able to carry babys this size on her, unless she only gives birth to the 20-30 I see in there

So i thought it would be an interesting success to share with yall. Ive had reoccurant spawns of peppermint shrimp in my refugium tank, but i thought Cleaners were alot harder to get to breed. I wonder if theres any chance some of these little guys will survive at least to juvenile-hood and perhaps.. adulthood? That would truely be cool but im not holding my breath. What i will do is to make sure I shoot some of the before mentioned micro-coral foods back there in hopes something special might happen.

Ill see if I can get my camera to macro focus on the lil guys. Any recommendations, advice and opinions are welcome.

-Jay

 

[James]

super cool. I call dibs on 1 if they make it to adulthood and you sell them. I would love a tank raised shrimp! Good luck, keep feeding the way you are feeding I guess. I have no real advice to give on this, 0 experience.

James

 

[noodleman]

you sure they're not just mysis shrimp swimming around? those hitchhike often and pics please

 

[nycdominicanreef]

a pic says 1000 words

 

[ReefFan]

np guys. Will do my best with a macro shot tomorrow. It cant be Mysis cuz i havnt added LR for many months. Only mysis ive added were frowzen and this area where the ababys are swimming is the area that the 3 Cleaners have claimed. I call it Cleaner Mountain cuz its a Peak-like rock in the back corner with Halimeda growing up it. The 3 huge Cleaners and the One Blood Shrimp own this rock and at night climb all over the tank at night.

If my 8 megapixel phone cam cant get it i will borrow an SLR or whatever theyre called

 

[cthoughts1]

ReefFan, that's awesome! Can't wait to see the pictures.

 

[bizarrecorals]

if they're actually cleaner shrimps, just keep up with the good work for a few more weeks, than they might make it, can't wait to see the results, havn't met anyone with this skill/luck.

 

[OzoneParkGuy]

Congrats... where's my cigar!! LOL!! Enjoy & GL!!

 

[rookie07]

I have this happen with my peppermints....From what I have learned, the shrimp will often release babies, and they will appear to live in the tank, but they never reach far into life, as there are many moltings early on, and the salt we use does not allow for these moltings. I always have babies in my tank, but they never reach adulthood, or even close.

Good luck however

 

[Imbarrie]

Same thing with my sexy shrimp. They hatch but get eaten very quickly. Or end up going through my sump and skimmer.


Sent from my iPhone using Reefs

 

[charliethetuna88]

U have sexy shrimp in ur main tank bro I was thinking about getting a few do they actually live with fish

 

[KathyC]

Are they swimming rather quickly? If so, I hate to be a spoil sport, but they are probably mysis

 

[ReefFan]

Are they swimming rather quickly? If so, I hate to be a spoil sport, but they are probably mysis

maybe.. i dunno. They have the same body type as the Cleaners, just much smaller. And I know one of them had eggs on her belly for a time. These things only appeared a week or two after the eggs vanished. Who knows maybe they are something else, but ill keep feeding that corner with the live phyto n such.

After about 6-7 live births of peppermints in the fuge tank, i see how hard it is to get them to survive. I had hope though cuz these guys are different sizes which means some are probably finding things to eat. But given the response from the experienced, i suppose its highly doubtful they are the Cleaners..

There has been numerous adult moltings in the past month though. I dunno if that means the babys can molt. I have no idea how live mysis shrimp couldve appeared in the last 2 weeks though. All the rock in there is 5 months old at the youngest and the frags Ive gotten were all very small and out of tanks that barely have any pods.

Thanks for all the input MR peeps. My hopes are not high about it, just relating an interesting observation to yall. Come to think of it i remember how all the peppermint babies swam, and it was pretty slow, clumsy n cute like. These guys swim faster. But Ill just keep doin what ive been doin except with a lil more attention to this Nem-protected corner where all the buggers are.

Happy Reefing

-Jay