Please Don't Eat Me!

[Vindicator]

OK! here we go. I am currently setting up and new reef tank (110g) and have a question regarding cleaner shrimp and there tank mates.

I really like the cleaner shrimp, and plan on keeping around 4 in the tank. I just want to make sure they will be safe with all there tank mates. (when I think shrimp I picture all fish thinking FOOD!). So what fish that are generally keep in a reef tank would not be safe with shrimp?

I will throw out some ideas here of fish that I will consider in the future once the tank is established. (you have to make the established part clear on some forums or people will never answer your question, they will just jump all over you for even Considering adding these fish to a new tank).

Just some idea's, if anyone can think of other reef fish that might bother shrimp let me know!


False Pec clownfish
Regal Tang
Sailfin tang
Chromises
Yellow tang
Flame Angel
Coral Beauty
Bartletts
Goby
Hawkfish
Anthias
Gobies
blue leg hermits
fighting conch

what about Wrasses?
Six line or Leopard


Thanks for your help guys! Throw out your Ideas!

[lcstorc]

Any tang is a possibility. Be sure toget large shrimp to minimize the potential.

[Varga]

I am almost positive it was the Naso who ate my shrimp (peppermint) all 4 were gone within days of meeting the tang!

[Nervoustime]

If you want to add a Hawkfish, it might be better to add him after the shrimps. There is a chance that they might bother your shrimps.

[nikkipigtails]

What kind of corals are you keeping? Dwarf angels have a tendency to nip at soft corals. I had a big problem with my coral beauty nipping at my button polyps and zoas.

[Vindicator]

Ya, the flame angel and coral beauty are a real long shot for me. I am planning on a mix of LPS and SPS, so I'm sure if the angel wanted to eat something he would have almost anything he wants LoL. Like I said, this is more about the shrimps, I don't think in the long run I will risk the angels with coral.

[nikkipigtails]

I've had gobies, false percs, a yellow tang and dwarf angles in the same tank...those fish could have cared less about the shrimps. Gobies are very docile and good community fish. The clowns have gotten more aggressive over time, but they still don't bother with my shrimps. I also have a fire shrimp and while he's beautiful he doesn't hang out in the open, he hides most of the time except feeding time. My coral banded shrimp has gotten pretty large and more agressive. My peppermint shrimp is about the same as the fire shrimp.

[spartacus]

I would suggest adding any shrimp you want before adding any kind of wrasse. My cleaner, coral banded and a couple peppermints where in my tank before I added a six line and they all live together fine. I have tried to add additional peppermints and they quikly became lunch.

[Vindicator]

I Would love to have a coral banded shrimp one day, but ya, I hear they are REALLY aggressive. I may just stick to the skunks and fire shrimp for now Only fish I am really concerned about is the wrasse. How many more people have had a wrasse eat a shrimp? hehe

[adresher]

I have a hawk and he just loves the shrimp I have added to the tank....As a meal that is!!!! He even brought his own cocktail sauce to the tank for all the shrimp he has eaten on me.

[Witfull]

any large fish can go after a shrimp...its nature. wrasses and hawks in particular, reguardless of size(of either). also any larger angel,,,they are fair game.



as for your other fish ideas....leopard wrasses rarely live in captivity.
bartletts....im assuming anthias....4-5 feedings a day,,,,and still iffy.

sailfin tang maybe OK, (im a cop but not tang cop)
BUT NOT WITH a regal tang AKA hippo tang AKA dory. OR a Yellow
to small of a tank yo house both let aloe all 3

chromis,,,,is this cause you want dither fish? start a thread asking partiulars on this topic...i can help there as well.

dwarf angels,,,,,think long and hard as to which species you want......there are many,,,but only,,,and i mean only one, in your size tank.


i say this as my best advice to a beginner. do not,,,and i repeat,,,,,DO NOT look at my tank as an example....i have a well practised eye, decades of experience, and a trunkload of failures to allow me to force the issue and get away with things most cannot~

[BoomerD]

Hey, what's wrong with a nice shrimp cocktail for lunch?

Hawkfish and most wrasses will be very problematic with shrimp. I've never had an angelfish eat a cleaner shrimp, but small pepps are fair game.

[robhart60]

I think the most important thing to do is plan the order you add any livestock. From my experiance I have a hawkfish and I added a cleaner shrimp after. The Hawkfish attacked a few times within the first day of having it, but when the cleaner shrimp found its territory and found its way around the rock the Hawkfish hasn't bothered it since. As already mentioned, you should get fairly large and strong shrimps as I 'once' had two candy shrimps. One of which got attacked to death by the Hawkfish, which I saw with my own eyes, it was terrible and I nearly sold my Hawkfish. But luckily I have had no troubles with him since. I also have a yellow tang, and considering its size, its just as timid as the other fish. I think this is partially down to it being the last fish I added to an established tank.

[Tru2nr]

so no shrimp are safe with a yellow tang wit?

[Vindicator]

Hey , I got another one. Will a Serpent Star try to eat cleaner shrimp??? Anyone housed these 2 before with problems?