Cleaner Shrimp

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vegasadam

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Feb 17, 2004
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I was wondering if i had to feed my cleaner shrimp or are they scavengers? They are kinda shy but when i feed the tank they come out and act very interested,

Also is there a certain number of shrimp you can put in the tank.

Last question, how do they clean the other fish? I have seen my Tang kinda dart at the shrimps whiskers, is that how they clean? Thanks to all who reply.

Adam
 
I feed my shrimp directly. If you have more than one, they are producing eggs, and need the nutrition. Being well fed probably keeps them from eating your sandbed creatures as well. They will soon be feeding from your hand.

They have a pair of very small pincers that they use to clean themselves and other creatures. If you spend a lot of time watching them, you will see them running these skinny, flexible appendages all over themselves.

As far as numbers, they are not territorial. I have always had 2 in the 20, so they are a source of zooplankton. In larger tanks, you will probably want a lower density than that.
 
They (and everybody else) gets a little bit if Omega 1 flake in the morning. They'll dance on the surface to grab it. At night, they get Formula 1, Prime Reef or some frozen brine shrimp.
 
Thanks again, that sounds easy enough. If they get brine shrimp does that make them canabils? So your shrimp come right up and feed? Mine havent done that yet but they look real healthy, and act healthy.
Adam
 
If they get brine shrimp does that make them canabils?
Click to expand...
LOL! Eating cows doesn't seem to make us cannibals, and we are much more closely related.

Give the guys time, they will be more bold. Remember, in the wild they approach giant fish to clean them, so they are a bit more adventurous than your average shrimp.
 
When I woke this morning one of my cannibals lol looked very dead but as I got a closer it was a molt. Now should I leave the molt in the tank as a source of food or should I take it out? In addition to the two cleaner shrimp I have 2 Clarkiis, 2 yellow tail damsel, 1 royal gramma, 1 flame angel, and 1 yellow tang in a 142 gallon tank.
Adam
 
I never pull them out. Some detritivores will probably have a nice little meal.

They mate after molting, so look for eggs under the abdomen. They are usually green at the beginning.
 
How long will the molt take to be totally consumed? Do the eggs the shrimp have also turn into food for everyone in the tank?

Thanks again for all the help, I have learned a ton from this back and forth.
Adam
 
Molts never seem to last more than a day in my tank. Somebody drags it off and eats it.

It takes a week or two for the larvae to develop, then the planktonic larvae get released at night, feeding the tank.

My pleasure, by the way. This is great fun.
 
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