How many shrimp for a 46 gallon?

[Tennyson]

I have just been noticing that my tank looks a little crowded with shrimp. Is there or should there be a limit for shrimp for a 46 gallon bowfront?

I already have...
-2 Skunk cleaners
-2 peppermints
-2 Anemone shrimp (urocaridella)
-and a Coral Banded Shrimp
-and I plan to get atleast 3 sexy shrimp
-And atleast one Fire Shrimp

A total of atleast 11 shrimp once I get the sexy shrimp and the fire shrimp

I have almost no invertebrates except for a bubble tip anemone, a haitin reef anemone (I'm getting rid of it once my bta splits), 4-5 hermits, 2 emerald crabs and an anemone crab, and a serpent star.

So my question is wether if I get too many shrimp, will there be more aggression between the different species? My coral banded is aggressive towards anything. My skunk cleaners are aggressive towards everything too except for my coral banded. So if I get those 3 sexy shrimp and fire shrimp, should there be even more aggression to the point where all I'll see is 11 crazy shrimp attacking each other?

 

[LobsterMan]

I would get rid of one of the skunk cleaners.Only get 2 sexy shrimps.Uumm I guess the rest is up to you.

 

[Tennyson]

Are those two skunk cleaners too much for a 46 g? Do the add to the bioload of the tank? I can still get a Fire Shrimp right? Or is that not suggested? Thanks though, I'll shed some light onto what you've said.

 

[teenreefer]

Well every living thing you put in your tank makes your bioload go up. And that just seems like to many shrimp for one tank. Do you have any fish?

 

[Tennyson]

8 fish. But I do weekly water changes.

 

[teenreefer]

Can you name them?

 

[Tennyson]

Sure,

-Diamond Watchman Goby
-Firefish Goby
-1 Green chromis
-Green Clown Goby
-Midas Blenny
-3 Ocellaris Clowns, but I plan to return one as soon as a pair is established.

Will weekly water changes, a carbon filter and a protien skimmer (remora skimmer) help the bioload a little?

What are your suggestions for what I plan to get? 2 Sexy Shrimp or 3, 4? And a fire shrimp, or would that add too much to the bioload.

I also read that macro/micro algea helps it too, and I plan to get some also.

 

[Pea-brain]

I would remove the coralbanded. they are predators and I wouldn't feel comfortable with them and a small shrimp like sexies.

The shrimp will not add significantly to the bioload unless you have to target feed them. They are most likely scavenging any leftovers from the fish. If they aren't then they may be adding significantly to the bioload.

Sexy shrimp do best in groups. 3 is a good number. Most people keep them at that but if you could afford it (and get rid of that coralbanded, or at least keep an eye on it) I would go for more. Just IMO

Dan

 

[Tennyson]

I wouldn't worry about the Coral Banded Shrimp, I plan to have the sexy shrimp host a frogspawn or a bubble tipped anemone or any coral, and those corals are all on the side of the tank with the most current which is where the coral banded shrimp does not venture into often. But I will consider getting rid of the coral banded shrimp.

So I guess I shouldn't be target feeding my shrimp then right? I target feed atleast 3-5 days a week so could that add to the bioload alot? I need to target feed my anemone shrimp because then they will snack on my xenia, but I could hold back on feeding the others.

What do you mean by affording the sexy shrimp, are they that expensive? I guess $17.99 at my lfs is alot of money. But I'm waiting til the 42% sale at the lfs to get them because I agree, 17 dollars is alot for a 1 1/2 inch shrimp. Do sexy shrimp have those little swimming things under their bellies (i think they are called pleopeds?) and do they use those little swimming things to swim around and avoid danger, if not, the coral banded shrimp might be able to catch and eat them. This whole new topic on sexy shrimp is getting bigger and bigger, I'll start a new thread about it.

Anyway, back to the original question, so all these shrimp shouldn't add to the bioload that much as long as I only target feed my anemone and coral banded shrimp right?

 

[Tennyson]

I was observing my coral banded shrimp trying to attack my anemone shrimp, it only does that when the shrimp comes near it, then it'll run towards it with its claws facing forward trying to catch it, then when it gets close, it will try to close its pincers at it, but it gets out of the way. So I think a sexy shrimp would survive, I'm buying one today if they have it to see how it does.

I'll reply back once I get one.