Introduction of Cleaner Shrimp

[hdang]

So, I recently bought a Cleaner Shrimp and a Yellow Mimic Tang. I figured if I am going to buy a tang, to might as well get a Cleaner Shrimp, because rumor has it, that the shrimp does a good job in keeping the tangs clean. So, obviously I noticed that the Tang got some ich, and my question is, how and when will the cleaner shrimp take to start cleaning the fish? By the way, the Ich could have developed beforehand, but had been dormant until just recently. It has been about 2 or 3 days since I bought them. The Shrimp molted, so its either stressed or happy, but I haven't had the slightest clue about where to go with this shrimp.

I have had this tank running for about 6 months now, it has thriving corals, and a lot of healthy fish. 2 clowns, 1 flame angel, 1 6-lined wrasse 2 sissortail gobies, mimic tang, sand sifter in a 30 gal. They are all quiet young, so space wise its not bad, also setting up a 110, so for now it should be fine.

 

[hogfanreefer]

Cleaner shrimp unfortunately don't do anything for ich. You've got some tough decisions ahead of you if you want a healthy tank.

 

[snorvich]

Cleaner shrimp unfortunately don't do anything for ich. You've got some tough decisions ahead of you if you want a healthy tank.

this. Please read the stickies in the fish disease forum.

 

[hdang]

I've pretty much gotten that concept, Although most of my fish have managed to survive the ich outbreak, and from my understanding is that if you keep the fish healthy, and make no sudden or dramatic changes, the fish will overcome it and fight it. I just hope that this tang can survive it long enough so I can set up my other 110.

 

[shay]

So you had six fish, probably none of them at their full size in a thirty gallon tank and you added a Mimic Tang. Tangs of any species should not be placed in thirty gallon tanks

 

[hdang]

Well I do have a 75 Gallon, but all those fish in there are mature, and so the likelihood of a 1" tang surviving with a snowflake eel, and 3" fish are kind of highly unlikely.

 

[Betta132]

You can try a freshwater dip for ich... It'll make most of the visible parasites fall off and die. It can cause a lot of stress depending on the fish, though... Some will stay reasonably calm, and then some will totally freak out.
And I totally understand the baby-tang-house thing... Makes sense. Just move him over as soon as possible.

What kind of 'sand sifter'? A goby? Blenny? If he's a shrimpgoby or watchman goby, I suggest you get him a pistol shrimp. Great fun to watch.

 

[Marshall O]

You can try a freshwater dip for ich... It'll make most of the visible parasites fall off and die. It can cause a lot of stress depending on the fish, though... Some will stay reasonably calm, and then some will totally freak out.

I guess my questions is what will this accomplish, besides possibly stressing it out as mentioned? You would still need to treat the fish for Ich, or do nothing and hope for the best. Doing a FWD may provide some temporary relief for the fish, but I have not seen any evidence it really does the fish any good when Ich will still be present. If you found some evidence, please post it as I am curious.

What kind of 'sand sifter'? A goby? Blenny? If he's a shrimpgoby or watchman goby, I suggest you get him a pistol shrimp. Great fun to watch.

I am guessing it is a sand-sifting Goby from the Valenciennea genus (such as Diamond Goby). If so, these do not pair up (typically) like a true Watchman Goby will. Besides, I think with 8 fish in a 30 gallon, I really think the OP should work on moving livestock to other tanks, not adding additional bioload. Setting up a hospital tank to at least treat the fish already infected would be where I would start. You could also do the tank transfer method, and then keep all of the fish in a separate tank (or 2 or 3!) leaving the display tank fallow for ~10-12 weeks to ensure Ich is no longer present.

 

[snorvich]

You can try a freshwater dip for ich... It'll make most of the visible parasites fall off and die.

Sorry, but a fresh water dip will have little to no effect on ich which is situated below the skin. A fresh water dip has temporary value for flukes or velvet.