cleaner shrimp question. thanks!

mr.p

Member
One of my Cleaner Shrimp molted last night, wow that was cool. Anyways I'm just wondering if he is going to molt again or if that's it? and if so how long between periods does it take? Also my two cleaner shrimp just hang out in the back of the rocks, they walk around but they aren't totally active is that okay? I just got them on Tuesday. Their isn't really anything in the tank to scare them maybe just a Tomato Clown but he's cool. Thanks for any help.
 

dogstar

Active Member
They will molt if stressed but normal for them to molt once or twice a month as they grow depending on how healthy and fast they grow and when fully grown they molt like every two months.
Normal for them to hang together and hide during the day at first but will cruise the hole tank at night.
 

mr.p

Member
Yeah he's usually right with the info he tells me, Dogstar is a cool dude. You too joker but I dont remember if you've given me any advice in the past, I'm sure you have I've learned so much from this website.
 

socal57che

Active Member
My cleaner would shed every 2 wks and move it to the top of the rock he lived under until his new exo. hardened. Its pretty disgusting the first time you catch them eating their own eggs.

We lost it along with our entire stock during our move from Dayton to socal. Was very traumatic for whole family. They all died the same night...ammonia I'm sure...it was the 8th day of the move.
 

drea

Active Member
i've had no luck w. cleaner shrimp, i tried twice, acclimated to perfection.... but the second one i did 4 days ago is no where to be found, i hope he pops out somewhere... otherwise attemp 3 coming soon!
 

dogstar

Active Member
drea, what else you got in the tank?
Some inverts like Coralbanded shrimps or emerald crabs can be cleaner shrimp killers. Some fish too.
 

heddy

Member
my CBS and cleaner molt every other week!!! and they are HUGE!!!!! cleaner is about 3.5 inches long (that is just the body, not the 8 inch long feelers)
CBS is about 3.5 inches long and 5 inch claw span (8 inch feelers here too)
they are not stressed. (they are right now, cuz i just moved the tank) but up until now they molt every other week.
they are the biggest shrimp i have ever seen! in a fish tank anyway....
 

tim_12

Member
If your shrimp hide all day, move some rock around and make an overhang. My cleaner shrimp is always under it, and always out in the open.
 

drea

Active Member
i have a '
yellow goby
clown goby
hippo
pair of percs
2 emrald crabs
red tiny crab, 15 blue hermits
10 snails
the first one i killed (didn't acclimate long enough and w./ a fish)
second one no sign of
 

drea

Active Member
i'm gonna try for a third time now... all my levels are great BUT, i like to keep my salt - 1.020.... is this ok for the cleaner? everything (inverts) in my tank have never died since day 1... i have 20 electric blue hermits, snails, 2 emralds, 1 red crab
i want to try this agian
 

sw65galma

Active Member
Originally Posted by drea
i'm gonna try for a third time now... all my levels are great BUT, i like to keep my salt - 1.020.... is this ok for the cleaner? everything (inverts) in my tank have never died since day 1... i have 20 electric blue hermits, snails, 2 emralds, 1 red crab
i want to try this agian

No you should have your salt at 1.024-1.026..
Where did you come up with 1.020 :notsure:
The Ocean is 1.026 so...seeing as how they came out of there....might be a good thing to shoot for
 

drea

Active Member
lol..... hmmm.... weird....... ok, i'll adjust that.................. so if i keep it like that i'll be good?
 

sw65galma

Active Member
Originally Posted by drea
lol..... hmmm.... weird....... ok, i'll adjust that.................. so if i keep it like that i'll be good?

Well you'll be better off anyway
 

drea

Active Member
dam.... now this got me thinking..... i have this inverts 4eva, they are doing great and my salt is about 1.020....
so is it better just to keep it like that and not add any shrimp? i do have a hippo tang that i have never had a problem w/.... will making the salinity higher be a problem to him?
 

puffer32

Active Member
Do cleaner shrimp clean fish out in the open? How do we know they are getting parasites off fish if they hide all the time?
 

ktsdad

Member
We had 2 cleaners in a 95 FOWLER.
They would sit on either side of a tunnel between the rocks and my Koran Angel would swim thru and stop for a second or 2 then go around again!
Kinda like a car wash, pretty cool to watch!
 
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