Cleaner shrimp killing another ?

[Eric55]

I added 2 very small cleaner shrimp today to my tank. There is already an existing, full size cleaner shrimp that I have had for 18 months in the tank.

When I put the two little guys in the tank, the larger cleaner shrimp chased them and it looked like the big shrimp was trying to catch the smaller ones with his legs.

Is the bigger shrimp trying to kill the smaller ones, or is he showing the smaller ones that he's the boss? The two little ones seem terrified.

Any information you can share will be greatly appreciated.

Eric

 

[Tennyson]

Are these all the same species of shrimp? How much smaller are the other shrimp? How big is you're tank?

 

[Eric55]

same species: skunk cleaner shrimp

the two small shrimp are a little more than half the size of the big one.

tank is 30 gallons. i used to have 2 full size cleaner shrimp and there was no problem, although they were the same size.

the agresssive behavior started within seconds of placing the 2 new shrimp in the tank.

 

[Tennyson]

Hmmm, well I could be wrong, but I think 30 gallons could be too small for that many shrimp. The larger one probably has alot of territory in that tank, and then it sees two other smaller shrimp, I think it's general intention would be to kick them off.

Has it been continuously bullying the two? or was it kind of like a one-time thing?

 

[Eric55]

on, off....on,off.......on,off......on,off

 

[dilbert_uk]

In nature, they generally hang around in masses, hundreds, or more.

I had first one adult skunk/scarlet cleaner and then bought a small one but there wasn't any problems.
The small one was only very shy and frightened for the first few days.

Sometimes, the now both adult shrimps try to jump at my little fish for whatever reason and maybe your adult one is of the same bold kind.

 

[rob1991]

yeah 30 gallons for a large cleaner shrimp is enough, but not for 3 more unless they are all added at once, the large one developed his terratory and doesnt want the smaller ones in there cause he wants to clean the fish not them. so hopefully it will work out.