cleaner fish and shrimp question

[StephNewman]

I have heard that everyone should own a cleaner goby (neon or yelow striped goby) to help keep parasites off fish. Do these help with ick? Also heard that shrimp such as cleaner shrimp and fire shrimp also remove parasites off fish. I have seen what looks like my fire shrimp setting up a cleaning station wher the larger fish go for cleaning? If I have a fire shrimp and cleaner shrimp should I still get a cleaner goby? Do they possibly rid the fish of different type of parasites?

 

[JxMetal]

everyone should?

I better hurry up and get me one of those before I get ick!

As far as I'm concerned, fish and shrimp can't PREVENT ich, but I believe they can help in a fish's health.

My cleaner shrimp constantly ride around on my tang.

It also depends on what fish you have. Certain fish will have nothing to do with a cleaner fish/shrimp.

 

[sirreal63]

My fish are healthy and have no cryptocaryon and have been in the system for a few years...what exactly would a cleaner be cleaning? Dead scales?

Remember for everything you hear there are thousands of things you don't hear. Cleaner fish typically starve in aquariums as there isn't enough natural food sources for them. Whoever was telling you needed to have one probably had poor husbandry and their fish "needed" them to combat the poor care the fish were getting. Just a guess though.

If you take care of your livestock they will have a much better chance of staying healthy. Fish also have immune systems and the ability to fend off most parasites...those that cannot and do not will not be saved by a cleaner. External parasites maybe but how is a cleaner going to help with internal parasites? Save the money, feed when is appropriate for the fish you have, don't overfeed and keep your water clean. QT whenever possible. I don't agree that you "need" cleaners.

 

[frenchie]

i almost lost my sailfin tang had something wrong with and had been without a cleaner shrimp for a while, so i freaked out ran to lfs and bought three cleaner shrimp and not kidding ya a bit that fish about tackled them soon as they hit the tank it wanted cleaned big time amazing that fish no what cleaner shrimp do. Not sure what was wrong with it but also got ick from being stressed and about 4 days later look all good as new again not sure if those cleaner shrimp really do that good but last hippo tang i lost looked the same way before it died.

 

[frenchie]

i do have a cleaner wrasse also pretty fish they like cleaning on fish to but fish preferred cleaner shrimp and six line wrasse didn't like it at all. the six line made it only 2 months before cleaner wrasse jumped and went carpet surfing.

 

[sirreal63]

FWIW I like cleaner shrimp...they are cool little guys and my YT loved getting preened. I am not sure what was picked off the Tang but after the shrimp went missing the Tang never got sick and has been happy and healthy. Cleaner shrimp I would buy again...if I could ever figure out what is eating them.

 

[frenchie]

my coral banded shrimp kept killing mine, didn't know that coral banded shrimp kill other shrimps and crabs. So coral banded shrimp is a gonner took 2 weeks to catch him also.

 

[sirreal63]

I suspect my usual suspect...a brittle star about the size of a dinner plate. lol My peppermint shrimp also go missing.

 

[frenchie]

good possibility

 

[sirreal63]

I really want to get him out but he is a crafty one.

 

[frenchie]

i know what you mean i got a striped serpent, black brittle and green brittle starfish in my 125 and they get under live rock pretty good to were all i see are legs sticking out and they move quick especially when i drop in some silversides, they like the small kind (omega brand) keeps them from going after fishies.