Breeding Skunk Cleaner Shrimp

[Chiya]

Hi, not too sure if this is the correct forum to post into, but I'm new to the hobby so it should count =)

Anyway, I had the luck to see one of the skunk cleaner shrimp spawn last night.
I saw the kicking and the whole tank was full of dust (baby larvae).. As I was not expecting them to spawn, there wasn't a spare tank or anything done to save the babies.

Sad to say, my clowns made short work of them and within 1 hour, the tank was clear again.. =(

I've tried searching online but there aren't any clear literature about rearing these shrimps in captivity.
It seems the hardest part is to get them to settle, which might take >80days from spawning.. I would like to try and is ready to prepare the appropriate set ups for this.

Does anyone have any experience that they could share and perhaps point me in the correct direction?

Thanks in advance..

Cheers

 

[tkeracer619]

This is not a novice subject. I don't want to be negative about it but I would let them be fish food. This is going to be next to impossible if not impossible. I would focus on keeping your livestock healthy and maybe sometime down the road you dip into breeding. Start with something easy when you do.

 

[jeff@zina.com]

I've tried searching online but there aren't any clear literature about rearing these shrimps in captivity.
It seems the hardest part is to get them to settle, which might take >80days from spawning.. I would like to try and is ready to prepare the appropriate set ups for this.

MOFIB. Learn it, love it. Cleaners are in the hard category and darned near impossible for average, or certainly beginner, hobbyists. Go for it! Just be sure to document the efforts.

Jeff

 

[Chiya]

Thank you for both your replies..

I figured it will be a long and hard path to walk as there aren't any well documented instances..

Nonetheless, I will set up a couple of tanks for this..

I will share my success / failure at the end of 4mths =)

 

[shifty51008]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=846955&highlight=lysmata+amboinensis

as stated they are very hard to raise. if i was you I would start of raising cardinal, or clownfish fry to start.

 

[Av8bluewater]

I had mine spawn a week or two ago. The next day they were gone so I thought they must have been eaten or died. Last night I looked in the tank with flash light and there are still a lot alive. They have grown and starting to get the red tails. I don't see them in the day time.
Would be pretty cool if they lived but I don't expect them to make it.

 

[Timfish]

That would be fantastic to see them develop to adulthood! You probably will need to set up individual tanks for each specimen. The larva/juveniles of many crustaceans are often carnivorous. Although the adults are hermaphrodites they are also monopgamous so do not put more than two together in a tank.

http://www.livescience.com/16985-cleaner-shrimp-murder-rivals.html

A friend of mine looked into raising and the aquaculture techniques used for table shrimp will work for skunk cleaners but he also found breeders overseas that were raising them much cheaper than he could.

 

[Lmax8rn]

That would be fantastic to see them develop to adulthood! You probably will need to set up individual tanks for each specimen. The larva/juveniles of many crustaceans are often carnivorous. Although the adults are hermaphrodites they are also monopgamous so do not put more than two together in a tank.

Well, I have three cleaner shrimp in my tank and they all hang out together and get along just fine, for over two years now.....

We are coming out there next week
http://www.livescience.com/16985-cleaner-shrimp-murder-rivals.html

A friend of mine looked into raising and the aquaculture techniques used for table shrimp will work for skunk cleaners but he also found breeders overseas that were raising them much cheaper than he could.

 

[Timfish]

Well, I have three cleaner shrimp in my tank and they all hang out together and get along just fine, for over two years now . . .

:lolspin: One, how do you know you have the three of same species? One of the things I learned a long, long time ago is there's always exceptions. So second, document it so you can prove it and it may be useful data for someone someday. Three, unless you fully understand why the exception works you are undouptidly going to unnecessarily kill animals when you try to duplicate it.

 

[Lmax8rn]

:lolspin: One, how do you know you have the three of same species? One of the things I learned a long, long time ago is there's always exceptions. So second, document it so you can prove it and it may be useful data for someone someday. Three, unless you fully understand why the exception works you are undouptidly going to unnecessarily kill animals when you try to duplicate it.

I'm not trying to raise them at this point, I was merely pointing out that I have THREE CLEANER SHRIMP IN A TANK TOGETHER who get along VERY well. Document? what would you like, pictures? Video? They have been together for a year and a half, and I don't remember stating I was planing on duplicating this scenario. Maybe these three ARE exceptions, there always are with every species. This is MY EXPERIENCE ONLY. No need to criticize..... Geez. This is why I rarely post on here because there are members who feel the need to belittle others. Try being nice!

 

[eddiem]

I've been in this hobby for over 20 years and just experienced this for the first time. Walked over to my tank with my flashlight in hand when I noticed my two cleaner shrimp front and center acting weird and the water covered in little floaties. after looking closer, the floaties were actually tiny shrimp. Pretty cool.

 

[fishing guide]

I have kept more than 2 cleaner shrimp in a tank for a number of years as well. Never a problem. They have bred. Nothing made it to maturity. Just my experience.