Cleaner Shrimp

[ryan820]

Hi all--

Who here has cleaner shrimp in their tanks? What value do you feel it adds? Are they a must-have, or are they just nice-to-have?

I'm considering getting one or two but am wary of them as I've read they can bother corals. I realize this is always a gamble to run with anything new to the tank, but to what extent is this characteristic true? Is it even worth considering when figuring out whether or not I should add this invert to my tank?

I think the skunk cleaner shrimp are pretty neat looking and if they'll clean my fish and keep things ship-shape, then I'm game, but I'm asking for personal experiences.

 

[djkms]

My cleaner shrimp has his little station and doesnt venture far from there. Not aware of it bothering any corals. A must have? No. Cool to have, yes, although my fish almost never get cleaned (which is a good thing I guess).

 

[Cherub]

I've had mine almost 2 weeks now and I seen it cleaning my blenny. It also shook my hand when I was spot feeding. That was +1 in my book lol

 

[Cake_Boss]

I love these guys! I steal food from corals when I spot feed though. I've talked to other members who feed their shrimp first before feeding coral. They don't bother anything at any other time. They do clean under your fingernails....BONUS!

 

[Boogie]

I love these guys! I steal food from corals when I spot feed though. I've talked to other members who feed their shrimp first before feeding coral. They don't bother anything at any other time. They do clean under your fingernails....BONUS!

I bout launched mine across the living room the first time he tried that. Scared the hell out me as I was watching my boy play xbox while spot feeding. Pretty sure I pee'd a lil....but yeah, I like em.

 

[Dane]

I have two, they setup there lill station.
my hippo tang gets ich quite often and the shrimp
love to eat it off of her bitchin to watch
feed them first and you wont have any problem
them grabbing food from the corals
plus them jumping on your hand is a nifty
trick when you have people over

 

[ryan820]

I thought cleaner shrimp couldn't help with ich, because it embeds in the fish's skin?

Either way, I'm sold.. I'll get one!!!

 

[Dane]

I would suggest getting 2 then they will set up their station

I thought the same about ich but the hippo only goes to them when she has it

 

[ryan820]

I would suggest getting 2 then they will set up their station

I thought the same about ich but the hippo only goes to them when she has it

Yes I just read about them being better in pairs. And let's face it, most things are more fun in pairs! About the ich thing-- it was just the consensus that the ich parasite, when in the fish's skin, cannot be removed by cleaners-- but I imagine if it is in any other part of the cycle, it could be removed. So your tang is probably doing just that... getting cleaned when the parasite is on the surface. Glad she takes her cleaning seriously!