question about cleaner shrimp

[mcmav37]

Okay, so I have 2 cleaner shrimp in my QT tank. I just got my passer angel today and put him in there and have witnessed the "cleaning" behavior for the first time. Those guys are all over him, picking at his gills, his mouth, everywhere else. It is pretty cool.

My question, though, is does this mean my angel has a significant problem with parasites or would the cleaner shrimp do the same thing to an immaculately clean specimen? I guess I'm just wondering if I can track how much the shrimp "clean" the angel to help determine when his time in QT could be over.

I'm really hoping I can get these guys big enough so that my flame hawk will leave them alone if I put them in the main tank because it is cool seeing this behavior and I know it will be beneficial for the tank long term. Anyone have success with flame hawks and cleaner shrimp?

 

[greenbean36191]

They clean regardless of parasite load. If you stick your hand in the tank there is a good chance they will clean you too. Mainly they're cleaning off mucous and dead skin. There isn't any good evidence that they clean off any parasites that we really worry about in the hobby (namely ich).

 

[RicksReefs]

the flame hawk won't care about the size of your cleaner shrimp. it will just beat it into bite sized pieces.