cleaner shrimp

[YE||0W TA|\|G]

Is it better to have more then 1 skunk cleaning shrimp? Right now I only have 1 but im wondering if another would be good to have

 

[luther1200]

I don't think it would hurt. They are very benifical to have. I also heard that if you have a pair they will mate, and create a natural food source, But I don't know if thats true or not.

 

[LockeOak]

They are all hermaphrodites, so any two will pair if they're big enough. They are not aggressive towards one another.

 

[snorvich]

No issue with multiple cleaner shrimp. However, they do NOT eat parasites; that is a misconception.

 

[fasteddie99]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14660597#post14660597 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
No issue with multiple cleaner shrimp. However, they do NOT eat parasites; that is a misconception.

Really? I didnt know that. What do they accually pick off of the fish then? I have 2 of them and my Damsels or clowns wont let them climb aboard. But they look forward to picking at my hands every time I reach in for something. They can accually be a pain sometimes when your trying to do maintinence and they are climbing up and down your arm. But they're still cool never the less.

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[luther1200]

I used to have one that would jump on my fish. They didn't mind to much. I have seen video of them in the wild crawling in big fishes mouths to clean them. And the fish just let them, and didn't eat them.

 

[Lotus99]

I've seen my fish go to the "cleaning station." One of my gobies would even sit there, open his mouth, and let the shrimp pick away. Even if they don't remove parasites, the fish seem to enjoy the spa treatment.

If you have two, they will mate, and release babies every month or so. It's a nice snack for the whole tank. I've looked into raising them, but it's difficult and time-consuming.

The only problem I've had with mine is that they'll sometimes steal food from the corals. I've watched them yank a piece of krill out of the stomach of a scolymia, not to mention mysis stealing from other corals.

 

[Alaskan Reefer]

I've had cleaner shrimp ride tangs regularly. They're either cowboys or cleaning something.

 

[luther1200]

My vote is cowboys, YE HAW.