There is some risk, but relatively "OK".
Cleaner Shrimp (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Luna81
- Start date
I got one last week, and yesterday when I was scraping algae I noticed a tickle on my hand, Pepe as my wife calls him, was running up and down my arm cleaning me!
I also saw him jump from a rock and land on my yellow tang a minute after my lights went out, the tang was hiding in a cave and completely wigged out, one of the funniest additions to the tank by far.
I also saw him jump from a rock and land on my yellow tang a minute after my lights went out, the tang was hiding in a cave and completely wigged out, one of the funniest additions to the tank by far.
ah yes, "how to train a shrimp". there is a book on that, http://www.amazon.com/Raise-Train-Your-Peppermint-Shrimp/dp/0966778421
dougers31
Senior Member
So are there disadvantages of cleaner shrimp?:lots:
Screwtape
Senior Member
I don't know if skunk cleaners will do this as much but I just had to remove my peppermint shrimp (same genus I believe) from my tank because they, or at least one of them, kept actually digging food out of my duncans after they had completely swallowed it. The duncan head would close up entirely as soon as the shrimp started "pawing" at it and the shrimp would still be shoving it's legs down into it trying to dig something out.
I tried feeding the shrimp extra mysis and tried fending them off the duncans with a poker for an hour but eventually they would get on it when I let my guard down eventually.
Maybe I got the evil twin, and like I said I have no idea if skunk cleaners have the same potential, but I couldn't let that happen, so I hope they like it in the sump!
EDIT: Also just to clarify, it was only my duncans, I could target feed my fungia just fine, and a paly in my tank grabs food from the water and they wouldn't touch him, they just couldn't resist the duncans.
I tried feeding the shrimp extra mysis and tried fending them off the duncans with a poker for an hour but eventually they would get on it when I let my guard down eventually.
Maybe I got the evil twin, and like I said I have no idea if skunk cleaners have the same potential, but I couldn't let that happen, so I hope they like it in the sump!
EDIT: Also just to clarify, it was only my duncans, I could target feed my fungia just fine, and a paly in my tank grabs food from the water and they wouldn't touch him, they just couldn't resist the duncans.
This actually just happened to me on Sunday! I had bought some coral at the meeting on Saturday. The urchin knocked some over (I may have to give him away
). As I was straightening everything out one of the shrimp got into the palm of my hand (which was facing down, as I was moving stuff) and started going to town. It felt so funny!I am still very much a newbie, so I can't tell you for sure, but I haven't seen any. They, well, clean. They seem to be taking the same food (mysis) as the fish that I feed for "extra" food. I think it's healthy for the fish because they get nasty stuff/dead skin off of them.
When I was reading about acclimating them a lot of people seemed to claim they lost them right away/within a few days, but I've had no trouble *knock on wood*. I did a very slow acclimation though, just to be safe. And I know that your tank needs to be fairly stable/not brand new for them.
But really, they're fun...and cute
Yummy indeed!
How long until they actually...lay...spawn...shoot out...whatever, the eggs?
I was girlishly (hey, I *am* a girl) excited about it.
And also excited that my Tunze Skimmer I got at the birthday sale seems to be working AND love the new rock, so thanks btw.
I was girlishly (hey, I *am* a girl) excited about it.
And also excited that my Tunze Skimmer I got at the birthday sale seems to be working AND love the new rock, so thanks btw.