Skunk Cleaner Shrimp & Blue Leg Hermits.

[FinsToTheLeft]

Last week I bought a couple of skunk cleaner shrimp. Added to my 75 Gal. One seemed to disappear right away. The one that stuck around looked healthy. He was active and eating. Today I can't find either one. I have about 7 blue legged hermits. Could they have killed the shrimp? The guy at my LFS said they would be fine, but we know how that goes.

The only other inhabitants are 2 clowns and some turbos. Thanks.

 

[Shmax]

I seriously doubt the hermits could catch a healthy cleaner shrimp. Often times shrimp will molt shortly after you get them home, and will disappear for a day or two until their shell hardens again. Something else you may want to check, is the floor under/around/behind the tank. I have had 2 cleaner shrimp jump out of the tank over the years. Rare but it happens.

 

[FinsToTheLeft]

Thanks. One made an appearance late last night. I was hoping it was a molting thing but i didn't see an empty "shell". I guess after some time maybe they will start coming out more. My top is pretty secure, but I have a feeling if they make it out one of my dogs will make a snack out of them.

i was just glad to see at least one is still with me.

 

[Indymann99]

FYI, so you dont freak out one morning.

Cleaner Shrimp

Molt

Mine molts about every 6 weeks or so. I used to pull out the molted exoskeleton... now Im lazy and the hermets and/or bristle worm do the job.. My shrimp hids out in the LR for about 3 days after each molt.

 

[FinsToTheLeft]

Thanks for the info and pics Indy. It's now been about 3 weeks since I saw the one shrimp, I guess only one survived the acclimation for some reason. The living one is doing really well though.

 

[Indymann99]

Cleaner busy at work. My bannerfish is the most willing to be cleaned.