cleaner and fire shrimp issues

[DarthReefer27]

i am new to this forum and a new reefer. i have a 29 g biocube that has been running for almost 6 months. i have had no issues with my fish (except for one of my two clowns that jumped out the other day) but i have had no luck with my cleaner shrimp (3 attempts) and now my first fire shrimp. i have 4 peppermint shrimp and have had no issues with them. i had purchased a cleaner shrimp from the LFS and after a few weeks, it was just gone. i tried another from that LFS and after two days, it was gone (no trace at all). i then tried a smaller cleaner from saltwaterfish.com and after a few days, it was gone (found my larger emerald crab eating the remains). two days ago i purchased a fire shrimp from the same LFS and it seemed fine but this morning was gone. i just found his remains being feasted upon. what am i doing wrong with the cleaners and fire shrimp? what stinks is the peppermints which are thriving were so cheap and I have lost $140 in other shrimp. any ideas?

 

[Wesus]

Looks like something eats your shrimps.

 

[robertlbates]

I have heard a lot of mixed reports putting peppermints and cleaners together and it was strongly suggested (from my LFS) that I do not put them together in my tank. (because they would fight it out and the peppermints would probably win).

That said i did give it a try and have had great luck BUT I have a 265g and it may just be that they have the room to get away from (not bug) each other too much.

Your tank may just be too small to house these two together.

Bob

 

[Shawn O]

Some say not to put cleaner shrimp in a tank of less than 70 gallons. Might be something to it.

 

[cincyjim]

I've always had 2 peppermint and 2 cleaner shrimp at a time in my tank and I haven't experienced any problems yet. They pretty much share the rock formation all the time.

Jim

 

[DarthReefer27]

thanks all. it ended up what i thought were the remains were in fact just the "fluff" as the LFS called it when i took it up there. he said most of the fire shrimps from their tank are molting and they have removed a bunch of "fluffs" from their tank yesterday and today. i hope to see him out and about again in the next day or two although with my past luck, I won't be holding my breath.

 

[snorvich]

I think they are called "molts". Unless you have a fish or invert that is killing them those shrimp should do fine with proper acclimation. Cleaner shrimp and fire shrimp can be paired, but my experience is only two of either per tank (my tanks are largish)

 

[Calappidae]

MASSIVE EDIT:

Try and spot the shrimp out at nighttime, usually cleaners roam around then. Fire Shrimp are just very reclusive, I was lucky to see mine last night during a late feed after a 2 month disappearence.

How big were the shrimp you bought? (Would you say their antenna span would be wider than your hand?)

 

[JamesHolt]

Fire Shrimp reclusive?? Mine taps on the glass begging for food when I am at the tank. Funny watching him work on the end of the feeder, all those legs pushing food in his mouth...

I do hate the molts though, fools me everytime when I see one...

 

[Shawn O]

I've always had 2 peppermint and 2 cleaner shrimp at a time in my tank and I haven't experienced any problems yet. They pretty much share the rock formation all the time.

Jim

You have 4 shrimp each claiming 1.5 sq ft as their own, so to speak, but they can still roam around in there. He's trying to keep 5 times that stocking density. It just seems to be a bit tight to me.

 

[cincyjim]

That's a very good point... my bad. I did not notice they said 29g which I would not have that many shrimp in it. I would suspect territory spats would take place in a tank that size.
Jim

 

[rssjsb]

Fire Shrimp reclusive?? Mine taps on the glass begging for food when I am at the tank. Funny watching him work on the end of the feeder, all those legs pushing food in his mouth...

I do hate the molts though, fools me everytime when I see one...

Yes, fire shrimp are usually kind of cryptic, especially compared with skunks. You got lucky, I think.

 

[JamesHolt]

Yes, fire shrimp are usually kind of cryptic, especially compared with skunks. You got lucky, I think.

Not luck, it took me a month of working with him to convince him I am the good guy, did my coral banded shrimp the same way..
Working on my Foxface now, he will rub against my fingers, but not quite eating from my hand yet

 

[rssjsb]

Not luck, it took me a month of working with him to convince him I am the good guy,

Oh, I thought from your earlier post that you were surprised that these guys are considered cryptic.

 

[JamesHolt]

Sort of suprised,, took me a month to get him to eat from/hang on the feeder, but he has always been out and about.. I tend to spoil my critters

 

[snorvich]

The level of reclusiveness of fire shrimp somewhat depends on what is in the tank with them. Usually somewhat reclusive, however.