Cleaner shrimp- Love or Hate?

[ento-reefer]

I have a skunk cleaner shrimp and some days I love him and some I hate him.

He is cute and does a good job of scavenging any left over food, but he steals food from my corals. He walks over my corals irritating them and causing them to close up

So are these guys more trouble than their worth? Do they have a negative impact on our corals or do the corals eventually get used to them?

I have had four different reef tanks over the years and never kept one until now so I am looking for others opinons. Thanks.

 

[cl2ysta1]

i'm not a fan of them. I've seen them rip up some pretty expensive coral stealing food.

i also don't believe they clean all that great anyways. they are cool, but not worth it in my opinion

 

[tbittner]

There isn't anything more entertaining to watch than a bunch of cleaners playing king of the hill under the moon light.

 

[lovethereefer25]

I love mine. Just feed them before you feed the corals and there shouldn't be an issue.

 

[snorvich]

Yes, I agree with the above. Does not cause problems in any of my tanks.

 

[flyyyguy]

the best thing about cleaner shrimp is putting some super glue gel on some food and watchng them glue their hands together and be stuck like that until they molt

 

[Newreeflady]

Had to evict a fire shrimp (~cleaner) due to its stealing food from an anemone (before the anemone could digest, the shrimp would literally pick it from its mouth!) I was forced to feed it a big chunk of food every time I wanted to feed the anemone. I had purchased the shrimp in hopes that it would scavenge. Instead it stole, and put a greater bioload on the system due to me having to feed it.

They are cute and quirky, but can do their job a little too well.

Thumbs down.

-A

 

[PSU REEFER]

Love mine--very interesting to watch.

 

[ento-reefer]

So I wonder if the size of the tank makes a difference? I have tried feeding my shrimp first, but this only works for a minute or two. I haven't noticed any damage to the corals, but that dam shrimp sure does end up eating more than his share of the food.:mad2:

 

[Nano Chris]

I have both a cleaner shrimp and a fire shrimp, i bearly see the fireshrimp while the cleaner plays king of the hill on the powerhead.

 

[Ismellikefish]

Re: Cleaner shrimp- Love or Hate?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12565760#post12565760 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ento-reefer
I have a skunk cleaner shrimp and some days I love him and some I hate him.

He is cute and does a good job of scavenging any left over food, but he steals food from my corals. He walks over my corals irritating them and causing them to close up

So are these guys more trouble than their worth? Do they have a negative impact on our corals or do the corals eventually get used to them?

I have had four different reef tanks over the years and never kept one until now so I am looking for others opinons. Thanks.

Easy fix, keep him busy with something else while you feed. > Trying giving him a chunk of meat or what not then do your normal feeding.

 

[stingythingy45]

And I'm sure he feels the same way about you.
Hates you for putting him in a tiny 12 gallon nano with corals in the way.
And loves the tasty food you give him.
The only thing I dislike about Skunk cleaners is the price.

 

[tkeracer619]

They are excellent. I have never had problems with them. It was pepperment shrimp that were a bit more agressive with the corals.

Everything needs to eat, I would say feed the shrimp more.

 

[downhillbiker]

LOVE,LOVE,LOVE. nothing is better than a cleaner shrimp at its cleaning station where all the fish come up and stop, while the cleaner shrimp jumps on them and picks them clean.

 

[snatchbak]

They grow big very fast. I want to trade mine in already for a tiny one.

 

[ento-reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12569728#post12569728 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stingythingy45
And I'm sure he feels the same way about you.
Hates you for putting him in a tiny 12 gallon nano with corals in the way.
And loves the tasty food you give him.
The only thing I dislike about Skunk cleaners is the price.

Well I am sure you are right. He is in a 39g not a 12. He fears nothing, and every time I put my hand in the tank to do something he comes over to clean me!

Trust me this shrimp gets well fed. I cannot believe the amount of food these guys can eat.

I still hate it when he steals food from my corals, but as long as he does no damage he will stay.

 

[rjsilvers]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12566189#post12566189 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by flyyyguy
the best thing about cleaner shrimp is putting some super glue gel on some food and watchng them glue their hands together and be stuck like that until they molt

Umm.... ... yeah.... :strange:

 

[SDguy]

I will not be replacing my cleaner when he finally goes to that big tank in the sky. Let's just leave it at that.

 

[xtm]

I love my cleaner... very entertaining to watch. Dude even walks on the glass like Spider-Man!