Dirty fish!?

[VickyH]

I keep seeing photos other people have posted of their cleaner shrimps cleaning their fish, I've got a cleaner shrimp and my fish won't let him near them. Every time they go anywhere near him he gets all excited and stretches out to try and reach them but they just shoot off quickly! Also would it be ok to add another cleaner shrimp or would it be better to add a different type of shrimp?

 

[Grins]

You should be fine adding another cleaner shrimp. My cleaner tried to seduce my tang into letting it clean it but the tang was a bit skittish at first. Now the tang begs to be cleaned and the cleaner is playing hard to get. He'll clean the goby or us but the tang he is giving the cold shoulder to. This of course ticks off the tang and he'll swim over to chase anything anway from his shrimp.

 

[VickyH]

Haha! My tang sits just close enough for shrimp to thinks he's in with a chance but not close enough so shrimp can actually clean it! Shrimp lives up in top corner of tank and very rarely moves from his spot except at feeding time, I rehomed my urchin a couple of weeks ago and now once the lights go off he wanders all over the whole tank!
How big do they get? He is a lot bigger than when I got him, as far as I know he has shed twice since getting him about 5 months ago - is that about right?

 

[Gildurath]

My cleaner is just like VickyH's. Mine sits on top of one powerhead and never moves until the lights go off. He does not move during feeding time, because I hand feed him.

He also has tried to clean a few fish, but they never really let him get close. I think he goes and cleans my clown while he sleeps in his leather.

 

[VickyH]

Gildurath - does your clown sleep in your leather even when it curls up at night? Mine never stay in it overnight they always go up to the top corner of the tank then come back down into leather in the morning. Glad I'm not the only one with unclean fish though!
I bought another cleaner yesterday as I heard they like company, it was quite sweet watching them roaming the rock together after lights out yesterday! lol!

 

[Gildurath]

My clown will stay in it if he can but usually it curls up and he gets pushed out. He actually hosts in 2 leathers right beside each other, and he jams himself between the stems at night when they curl up usually.