Help from Cleaner Shrimp keepers?

TomV · 05-11-2004, 02:25 PM

I just picked up the long-awaited cleaner shrimp. So, tell me about them. I read a lot of websites about them, but tell me YOUR experiences. What should I look for in behavior? Do they constantly clean off their antennae like mine is doing? What is healthy behavior? What is not healthy behavior? How can I keep this little guy happy?

TIA!

TomV · 05-11-2004, 02:33 PM

The "new guy"

sarah · 05-11-2004, 02:34 PM

Hi Tom glade you got you cleaner shrimp, they are cool to watch.
I have one and he always cleaning his antennae and his body.
They are a very busy shrimp, they will clean everying in your tank including your hand when you put it in.
Dont worry if he disappers behind your LR he could be sheading, mine does it about once a month. They will also eat anything {mine does anyway}. Good luck with him

Sarah xxx

TomV · 05-11-2004, 06:00 PM

My Shrimp just cleaned my fingers! LOL! It was weird!

I love Inverts!

Xanareef · 05-11-2004, 06:04 PM

The antenae cleaning is normal so far as I can tell. My pair does it constantly.

The only thing I'd caution you about is if you target feed corals and the like. My cleaners will very brazenly walk over and pull food out of the coral's little mouth the second I'm an arm's length away from the tank.

Overall I like 'em.

Alexis

TomV · 05-11-2004, 06:44 PM

I just put a tiny bit of food in for my clown and some drifted to the bottom. The cleaner POUNCED on it and ate away merrily!!

So, I guess thats a sign that it likes the tank if it's eating well!

PSU4ME · 05-11-2004, 10:16 PM

Doesn't seem like your cleaner has anything to worry about....I ahve had mine for like 3 months and he is pretty much self sufficient.....I target feed him about once a week though.

CAT · 05-14-2004, 11:27 AM

I've had my fire shrimp for about 3 1/2 years. I target feed every day. I've seen that shrimp polish off a dead chromis in about an hour- they're big eaters.

hth

TomV · 05-14-2004, 11:34 AM

Well, every time I feed, the shrimp heads straight for the food at full speed! It definitely loves to eat!

bonerfortuna · 05-14-2004, 11:39 AM

Any chance I could have one of those in my FO tank. Huma trigger and purple tang are the predominate inhabitants. Im worried about the trigger as hes very inquisitive but if nature tells him its a good thing will he leave it alone? Any experiences here before I kill a nice shrimp unnecessarily ?

jks1 · 05-14-2004, 05:11 PM

Huma trigger would prob make quick dinner out of the shrimp.

BigReepher · 05-14-2004, 06:06 PM

I agree.

Travis · 05-14-2004, 09:37 PM

Love my cleaner shrimps. They are very bold feeders, LOL no problems there. If you find what looks like a carcass one morning, don't fret, the shrimp has probably just shedded and will reappear soon looking brighter than ever.

Careful if you're dosing iodine, there's some evidence that too much can be pretty bad for shrimps. Also, keep in mind their life span is only about 1-1.5 years. So enjoy it while it's there, but know they're not especially long-lived.

One of my favorite reef animals by far, good choice, I know you'll enjoy it!

Travis

05-11-2004, 02:25 PM	#1 (permalink)
TomV Neon dottyback Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 632 View Gallery Karma Komment	Help from Cleaner Shrimp keepers? I just picked up the long-awaited cleaner shrimp. So, tell me about them. I read a lot of websites about them, but tell me YOUR experiences. What should I look for in behavior? Do they constantly clean off their antennae like mine is doing? What is healthy behavior? What is not healthy behavior? How can I keep this little guy happy? TIA! __________________ TomV 10g Nano Re-established 3/06: 96W PC Quad, Seaclone 100 modded, Hagen 301 PH'd, FOWLR for now. 55g 3-15-05: 130w PC lights, 250w Ebo Jager htr., 200w htr., Aquaclear 500 DIY Fuge. Softies Tank

05-11-2004, 02:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
TomV Neon dottyback Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 632 View Gallery Karma Komment	The "new guy" __________________ TomV 10g Nano Re-established 3/06: 96W PC Quad, Seaclone 100 modded, Hagen 301 PH'd, FOWLR for now. 55g 3-15-05: 130w PC lights, 250w Ebo Jager htr., 200w htr., Aquaclear 500 DIY Fuge. Softies Tank

05-11-2004, 02:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
sarah Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: england, midlands Posts: 486 View Gallery Karma Komment	Hi Tom glade you got you cleaner shrimp, they are cool to watch. I have one and he always cleaning his antennae and his body. They are a very busy shrimp, they will clean everying in your tank including your hand when you put it in. Dont worry if he disappers behind your LR he could be sheading, mine does it about once a month. They will also eat anything {mine does anyway}. Good luck with him Sarah xxx __________________ I am the way i am..so please be nice

05-11-2004, 06:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
TomV Neon dottyback Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 632 View Gallery Karma Komment	My Shrimp just cleaned my fingers! LOL! It was weird! I love Inverts! __________________ TomV 10g Nano Re-established 3/06: 96W PC Quad, Seaclone 100 modded, Hagen 301 PH'd, FOWLR for now. 55g 3-15-05: 130w PC lights, 250w Ebo Jager htr., 200w htr., Aquaclear 500 DIY Fuge. Softies Tank

05-11-2004, 06:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
Xanareef Fire Coral Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Toronto, Ont Posts: 64 View Gallery Karma Komment	The antenae cleaning is normal so far as I can tell. My pair does it constantly. The only thing I'd caution you about is if you target feed corals and the like. My cleaners will very brazenly walk over and pull food out of the coral's little mouth the second I'm an arm's length away from the tank. Overall I like 'em. Alexis __________________ I do not have a signature.

05-11-2004, 06:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
TomV Neon dottyback Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 632 View Gallery Karma Komment	I just put a tiny bit of food in for my clown and some drifted to the bottom. The cleaner POUNCED on it and ate away merrily!! So, I guess thats a sign that it likes the tank if it's eating well! __________________ TomV 10g Nano Re-established 3/06: 96W PC Quad, Seaclone 100 modded, Hagen 301 PH'd, FOWLR for now. 55g 3-15-05: 130w PC lights, 250w Ebo Jager htr., 200w htr., Aquaclear 500 DIY Fuge. Softies Tank

05-11-2004, 10:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
PSU4ME JoePa lives on!!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: PA Posts: 382 View Gallery Karma Komment	Doesn't seem like your cleaner has anything to worry about....I ahve had mine for like 3 months and he is pretty much self sufficient.....I target feed him about once a week though. __________________ 90 Gallon AGA with a 40 breeder sump (DIY). 2-250 Watt XM 10k's and 2 actinic VHO's. 3-5 inch DSB.

05-14-2004, 11:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
CAT Limpet Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 133 View Gallery Karma Komment	I've had my fire shrimp for about 3 1/2 years. I target feed every day. I've seen that shrimp polish off a dead chromis in about an hour- they're big eaters. hth __________________ Don't take life too seriously; Nobody gets out alive. Tank: 40 gal Oceanic stretch hex with 15 gal fuge. LPS, softies.

05-14-2004, 11:34 AM	#9 (permalink)
TomV Neon dottyback Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 632 View Gallery Karma Komment	Well, every time I feed, the shrimp heads straight for the food at full speed! It definitely loves to eat! __________________ TomV 10g Nano Re-established 3/06: 96W PC Quad, Seaclone 100 modded, Hagen 301 PH'd, FOWLR for now. 55g 3-15-05: 130w PC lights, 250w Ebo Jager htr., 200w htr., Aquaclear 500 DIY Fuge. Softies Tank

05-14-2004, 11:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
bonerfortuna Star Polyps Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Staten Island NY Posts: 162 View Gallery Karma Komment	Any chance I could have one of those in my FO tank. Huma trigger and purple tang are the predominate inhabitants. Im worried about the trigger as hes very inquisitive but if nature tells him its a good thing will he leave it alone? Any experiences here before I kill a nice shrimp unnecessarily ? __________________ Peter 110 Tenecor Flat Back Hex FOWLRaZaOM 50 Breeder Reef JBJ Nanocube

05-14-2004, 05:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
jks1 Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 876 View Gallery Karma Komment	Huma trigger would prob make quick dinner out of the shrimp. __________________ John Tank: 29g glass Pumps: Mag5.0 return - (3) rio 100 PHs Lighting: (1) 150w XM 10K/(2) 30W actinics Equipment: Aqua C Urchin skimmer- CPR Fuge, Titanium Heater -Red Sea wavemaster Pro Tank: 210g 1/2" Acrylic, dual overflows, 75g glass sump w/ 20g fuge. Pumps: Mag24 return - (2) MAG24s running 2 closed loop systems. Lighting: (3) 400w XM 10K/(2) Custom Sealife 96w PC - 25w dimmable incandescent Moonlight Equipment: Aqua C EV180 skimmer - CR500 calc reactor - Titanium Heater - AquaLogic single Stage Temp Controller - Aquanetics 1/5Hp Chiller - Neptune sys aquacontroller

05-14-2004, 06:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
BigReepher Scopas Tang Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 474 View Gallery Karma Komment	I agree. __________________ I'm not a doctor but I'll take a look.

05-14-2004, 09:37 PM	#13 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,701 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Love my cleaner shrimps. They are very bold feeders, LOL no problems there. If you find what looks like a carcass one morning, don't fret, the shrimp has probably just shedded and will reappear soon looking brighter than ever. Careful if you're dosing iodine, there's some evidence that too much can be pretty bad for shrimps. Also, keep in mind their life span is only about 1-1.5 years. So enjoy it while it's there, but know they're not especially long-lived. One of my favorite reef animals by far, good choice, I know you'll enjoy it! Travis __________________ Help build the Encyclopedia of ReefKeeping Find over 1400 Reef Aquarium Articles at The Reef Aquarium Index

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