New Fire Shrimp Question

[Tazz11]

For the Past year I have been interested in obtaining a couple of skunk cleaners for my 90 gal reef but for one reason or another none of my LFS would get them in. I happened to stop in a LFS about 45 minutes from my home and they had 2 fire shrimp for sale. Very pretty and was told they have similar characteristics to the Skunk cleaner, Social, and willing to clean fish. I added them last night after a slow acclimation and have yet to see them since they hit the sand bed. I am assuming they are hiding and have no problem with that for now. My question is, once they get comfortable in their new home will they become more outgoing? with as pretty as they are it would be a shame if they stayed hidden all the time...not to mention the $ spent to bring them home. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks.

 

[bencozzy]

mine hide constantly comes out for a feed and when it does my clown tries to have it clean him but its to timid to do it. my fire did try cleaning me once but thats because i hadnt fed the tank for a few days.

nothing like a skunk cleaner there almost always out and very eager to clean fish and you!!

 

[Tazz11]

Crap...I hope mine plan on coming out a bit more then that.I guess time will tell

 

[snorvich]

They are mostly cryptic and do not come out much. They will come out for feeding. The common cleaner shrimp is much more outgoing.

 

[Tennyson]

Yup, fire shrimp are usually only likely to come out only during feeding time and night since they are gathered from deep depths. So they are used to darkness or living in caves. But it can be different with every shrimp you get, right now, its a bit too early to see if they are outgoing, but they might not come out too often.

You may be able to train it by hand feeding it goodies like mysid so it comes out to clean your hand like skunk cleaners, but they could be shy, its worth a shot though.

Good luck with your shrimp!

 

[Tazz11]

Thank you to everyone, it's been four days now and I haven't seen them since the first day. I think I know where they are hiding but they don't even come out when I feed the tank..."Yet" I am hoping they will become more active or at least let me see them when I feed. I'll let you know how things go.

 

[Steveabg]

The first fire shrimp I had vanished. I didn't see him for 3 months, and assumed he was dead. Then I spotted him moving around deep in a hole in the rock work.

The new one made his home under a rock right by the front of the tank. He cleans our mandarin, cleans the sponge filter, and comes running whenever I have my hands in the tank. Pretty friendly guy.

 

[Tazz11]

Hope that happens to me. I'm OK if they hide for a while just not forever.

 

[IPowderBlueTang]

Both my fire and cleaner hide in their caves and clean the Tangs, I hardly see them out and about, only to grab food drifting by once in awhile!