Shrimp Nitrate Tolerance

[framerguy]

The thievery usually only applies to stealing from corals IME. The shrimp will set up a cleaning station and the fish will come to it. They are a good addition to a FOWLR tank.

[CMG]

Well mine is still shy I think since it hides in the corner for now, its only ben in there for a day. But I also only have 3 damsels and they are kind of spaz's so I dont know if they are interested in staying calm enough to get a cleaning! haha. Once I feel comfortable with my SW ability's I will get "cooler" fish and perhaps they would like a cleaning. : )

[CMG]

It turns out my shrimp is not a true coral banded shrimp but instead a golden coral shrimp. Darn it! I am swaping it hopefully on friday for a true coral shrimp as I like the coloration much more. This one has a golden body and I thought maybe thats just what a juvanille looked like. But upon purchasing my new nifty little book: Marine Invertibrates by Ronald Shimek I have learned otherwise. there are three types.

I also got some new snails today. Maybe you can help ID them? Form looking at my new book they appear to be either Nerites or Turbos but I think turbos are large? These are maybe 1/4-1/2 inches but they seem pretty speedy?

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopo...13617/size/big

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopo...13616/size/big

[framerguy]

the photos I saw were definately Nerite snails. Turbos are usually small though, around one inch. Mini Turbos (Collonista) are much smaller at 1/4". Your book shows both, check them out.

[barrythedamsel]

I have an evil coral banded shrimp. His name is Al. I have read coral banded shrimps can take on a cleaner role. I have yet to see this with Al. He attacks anything that gets near him. He has killed 4 lysmata (cleaner shrimps) a smaller coral banded and a few slow fish. He runs to my hand when I am doing maintenance in the tank. He is quite large and nice to look at but I would never buy another one again. Good luck with yours.

[CMG]

Originally Posted by barrythedamsel

I have an evil coral banded shrimp. His name is Al. I have read coral banded shrimps can take on a cleaner role. I have yet to see this with Al. He attacks anything that gets near him. He has killed 4 lysmata (cleaner shrimps) a smaller coral banded and a few slow fish. He runs to my hand when I am doing maintenance in the tank. He is quite large and nice to look at but I would never buy another one again. Good luck with yours.

Awww, thats too bad. Mine is a big chicken! haha. He hides in the corner all day and at night slightly ventures over the rock in the corner. I think he cleans because I see him shoving his little "fingers" n his mouth all day as he travels around the sand and rock in the corner all day.

I will probably just end up keeping this guy because its so much time trying to capture them and then acclimate a new one. A college student with two jobs a cat and a fiance only has so much time!

[CMG]

Originally Posted by framerguy

the photos I saw were definately Nerite snails. Turbos are usually small though, around one inch. Mini Turbos (Collonista) are much smaller at 1/4". Your book shows both, check them out.

Thank you! I will defenetly check out my book again. I enjoy reading about all of these creatures in my book. It also mentions taht snails are one of the most abused aquarium creatures because usually too many are purchased and they starve to a sustainable level. Luckily I only have 3 in a 40g so I think they are ok. And I also noticed that where I initially placed them on my LR it is white now so I guess they eat the diatoms pretty well.

[CMG]

So apparently there are 2 nerites, a pacific one and a carrabean one. The ones I have seem to be carabean. Interesting stuff. They are cleaning away. Unfortunately one got sucked into a pump but I think he is going to pull through. More on my chronical about that.