Cleaner Shrimp in Agg tanks?

[95harley]

Does anyone keep Skunks or Fire Shrimp in their predator tanks?
I have seen them in with big eels before and seen them cleaning groupers in the wild, but I'm afraid my fish would just see an expensive snack.
The one's that worry me..
Volitan Lion
Miniatus Grouper
Harlequin Tusk
Snowflake Eel
Should I not try it? I see the benifits and think they add a nice look and feel to the tank, but don't want to flush that cash for no reason.

 

[sharkboy13]

lion and eel will snap it up

 

[psusocr1]

AW2 keeps cleaner shrimp in his eel tank and the eels let the cleaner shrimp clean their mouths.. but IMO a lionfish will devour it as well as a minitus

 

[sharkboy13]

well AW as fish eating morays, their jaw and teeth structure more designed for grasping a fish, while a sfe which this guy plans to get is a crustacena moray more designed for crushing the exoskeleton of a crab or shrimp

 

[30-xtra high]

if you want a shrimp, get a coral banded shrimp, it'd be your best bet... meanest shrimp i know of other than mantis.

 

[sharkboy13]

most likely the only things that won't die r hermits, snails, and a mantis

 

[peckhead]

i have a pepermint shrimp with a humu humu, blue spotted puffer, and sfe. i bought it at pet co for like 5 bucks and i wanted to see if anyone would eat it. at first they tried to get him. then i didnt see him for a while so i figured he was gone. then yesterday i saw him walking around...this is all in a 44g tank. my 90 is cycling so im gonna experiment some more with shrimp and my fish in a couple weeks

 

[sharkboy13]

eventually the shrimp will slip up and he will walk straight infront of the sfe and he'll be loong gone

 

[wanabebell]

and your tusk??????
its main diet is crustaceans
will gleefully eat the shrimps not only that but your snails are a shure gonner
the only cleaning creature ive been able to keep in my tank is a tiger crownie
my zebra moray dosent bother it either

 

[sharkboy13]

Originally Posted by wanabebell
and your tusk??????
its main diet is crustaceans
will gleefully eat the shrimps not only that but your snails are a shure gonner
the only cleaning creature ive been able to keep in my tank is a tiger crownie
my zebra moray dosent bother it either
snails shouldnt be eaten, unless hes as unfortunate as i think he is

 

[aw2x3]

Originally Posted by Sharkboy13
well AW as fish eating morays, their jaw and teeth structure more designed for grasping a fish, while a sfe which this guy plans to get is a crustacena moray more designed for crushing the exoskeleton of a crab or shrimp
Both of my "fish eating morays" have eaten plenty of my Cleaner Shrimp. After going thru aprox. 6 pair of Shrimp, I finally gave up. It'd taken them sometimes a few months to eat them, but it eventually happened.
I've seen Cleaner Shrimp live with everything from Clown Triggers, to Miniatus Groupers, to Lion Fish, etc. and be perfectly fine. It's just a toss up.

 

[nmg27]

The tusk will snap himup in a second! Just tried the second one in as many months and didn't last the night.
But my CBS holds him own quite well, just no cleaners!
Good luck

 

[wanabebell]

Originally Posted by Sharkboy13
snails shouldnt be eaten, unless hes as unfortunate as i think he is
how do you think hes unfortunate really

 

[armstrong]

I added a sfe of about 8 inches and 2 cleaner shrimp each an inch in length the shrimp lasted about an hour. I had a fat and happy sfe with antenna sticking out of his mouth the rest of the day.

 

[wanabebell]

sharkboy once again why do i get the feeling you chimed in when you really dont know what you are talking about????
have you seen a harlequin tusk's big bright blue teeth
those are for CRUSHING crustaceans
shirmps
crabs
snails
starfish
are all perfectly fair game in a harlequins mind

 

[caz2022]

Just wanted to chime in here. I've had a SFE for almost two years now and he has never made an aggressive move towards anyone on my cleaning crew. My Skunk shrimp hangs outside his den and cleans his face any time he sticks it out,hell I have two Emerald crabs that share his den with him. The only incident I've ever had with him was when I was feeding him a thawed shrimp and my Valintini got too close and got a little nip. That I blame on the eels poor eyesight. Now,my Picasso,thats another story......

 

[wanabebell]

caz im surprised about your sfe but i guess its a mater of individuals

 

[gsxr750]

sounds interesting I might give it a try

 

[wanabebell]

yes very cool when it works out
but its painfull for the wallet when it dosent which is more likely than having it work out
I have to admit there isnt to many things cooler than watching a 6 foot tesselata moray being cleaned by a 1 inch cleaner shrimp. Just the trust the 2 animals have. The eel so desires to eat that shrip it just has to close its mouth and that shrimp is a gonner

 

[toughguy80]

I had 1 in with a trigger and a lion. Lived a long time. The fish now instinctually what's what. Both my lion and trigger took their turns at the "cleaning station". Was neat watching the shrimp crawl around the lions mouth.