Periclimenes pedersoni host

[rssjsb]

Anyone know the anemone host for a pederson cleaner shrimp?

 

[billsreef]

The Condylactus sp. anemones do the trick in nature

 

[rssjsb]

That's what I thought, but I've had a surprisingly difficult time actually finding a conclusive statement to that effect about the Pederson's online.

Maybe I Debi and I have something in common.

Thanks!

 

[billsreef]

I don't think they are exclusive to the Condy's, I've also seen them in corkscrew anemones as well.

 

[rssjsb]

Thanks, Bill. I'm also wondering what fish they clean in the wild. They're so tiny! I've got a pedersoni and a yucantanicus in a 10 gallon right now, and I'm thinking of doing a small biotope display for them in an established 20 gallon that will be vacant soon.

The yucantanicus has settled in to a large riccordia, but the pederson's stays mostly on the tank wall. Granted, that's where the pods are, and he seems to be catching more than I would have suspected.

Anyway, I'm trying to decide whether to add a small condy to the 20 gallon. If so, that will limit what else I can keep. (I've got enough experience - good and otherwise - with anemones to approach this prospect with caution.)

 

[billsreef]

I've never personally seen one cleaning a fish, but have seen some pictures of them doing it. Sounds like a nice tank set up, got any pictures?

 

[rssjsb]

Not yet. The tank they're in now isn't very picturesque. I've let the front glass "go" a little in the interest of cultivating pods.

Being theoretical, the 20 gallon setup is enjoying a state of perfection. Harder to get pics, though.

 

[billsreef]

"I've let the front glass "go" a little in the interest of cultivating pods."

I need to remember that excuse

 

[iamwhatiam52]

Both P. pedersoni and yucantanicus will accept a variety of hosts.
I am pretty sure I have seen both in all 3 common anemones(Stoichactis, Condylactis, Bartholomea) in the caribbean.
In a tank they will host almost anything, and seem to do well even without a host.

In my tank with both a pedersoni and a yucatanicus, the only anemone is a Bartholomea. The pederson lives in it with a pair of Alpheus armatus pistol shrimp, but the yucatanicus shows no interest.

 

[rssjsb]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10345635#post10345635 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by billsreef
"I've let the front glass "go" a little in the interest of cultivating pods."

I need to remember that excuse

Yeah, well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Iamwhatiam52: That's helpful, thanks. Do you have any fish in with them? If I add an anemone, I probably won't add any fish - I don't need that on my conscience. If they'll do ok without one, maybe I'll add some little Carribean gobies or a jawfish or something.

 

[iamwhatiam52]

My 180 has lots of fish, but none that will eat the shrimp. Lots of small gobies, a pair of Argi dwarf angels, pair of sunburst anthias, firefish. Also 2 red shrimp, 2 orange coral banded , 2 cleaner shrimp, sexy shrimp, orange claw scissor shrimp, ghost pipe shrimp.
Also I do have one other anemones, but none available or attractive to the shrimp; A sand anemone hosted by a pair of perculas, and 2 tube anemones.

Just my 2 cents, but jawfish may be a bad idea. Specialized habitat, big mouth, might need larger than a 20 gal.

 

[rssjsb]

Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking on the jawfish - I'd rather not cover this tank anyway. Don't most gobies jump? Maybe I'll stick with inverts for this one.

How the heck do you ever see these little shrimp in a tank that big? I've got mine in a nano, and I have the search for them as it is.

 

[iamwhatiam52]

Sometimes I don't see them all right away, but I love an interesting tank full of surprises. I have a few critters I see only once every few months.