How Many tyoes of shrimp can i have?

[madman133]

Hey ther guys can i have more than 1 species of shrimp in my tank? Its a 55 gallon fowlr with approx 45lbs lr &20-30lbs dead coral. Also will shrimp help controll diseases and what can i feed them as in dry food as i like to go on vacation but sometimes cant get someone to feed them so i have to have electric feeders. Thanks Mad

 

[chipmaker]

GIven sufficient space most shrimp are compatable with each other. I have sexy, peppermint, camel and cleaners in a 16 gal and other than just making motions to chase the other species they all get along and never got into fights etc. Shrimp are pretty darn good scavengers and usually for them to find bits and pieces of any food that escapes the fish are found. Mine eat anything I put in the tank if they can get their little claws on it. Usually they are the most boisterous feeders and take it away from the fish.

 

[elfdoctors]

Beware of keeping coral-banded shrimp with other shrimp. Otherwise, they usually coexist well with each other. Some shrimp (e.g. camel-backed) are not reef safe. I have kept cleaners, blood red, tiger pistol, and peppermints together.
Even cleaner shrimp cannot cure ANY infections. IF they take to your fish they will lower parasite numbers. However, most of these parasites are also in the gills and cannot be treated by cleaner shrimp. They may decrease stress on a fish to allow the fish enough time to develop natural immunity.
I agree that shrimp will eat practically anything. When I go on vacation, unless it is going to be for longer than 7-10 days, I don't feed my tank at all. (I am more worried about having someone add freshwater.) Many more fish die from overfeeding than from starvation.

 

[happyhourh]

Originally Posted by elfdoctors
Even cleaner shrimp cannot cure ANY infections. IF they take to your fish they will lower parasite numbers. However, most of these parasites are also in the gills and cannot be treated by cleaner shrimp. They may decrease stress on a fish to allow the fish enough time to develop natural immunity.
I agree they wont cure disease, but I have seen my cleaner clean inside the gills of my lawnmower blenny and my coral beauty.
As for the origional post, I have cleaners and peppermints in the same tank and I dont think they know eachother exsists. The cleaner just chills upsidedown all day waiting for my hand or fish to come in, while the peppermints are hiding most of the time on the other side of the tank.

 

[madman133]

alright cool guys thatnks for all the replies!

Mad