How Should Cleaner Shrimp Act?

[captainemo]

For those that have them, how do your cleaner shrimp act? Do they move about the tank? Do they try to clean your fish?
My cleaner shrimp simply hides on holes in the rock and sticks his antenae out. He does not come out, except perhaps at night. He is in a different hole each morning.
Is he normal?

 

[fedukeford]

how long have you had the shrimp?? it may just be getting used to the tank

 

[dina12]

I agree, he may be getting use to things. My cleaner shrimp is very noticable. He "swims" around the tank - cleans the fish, the crabs - even tries to clean my hand when I put it in there. At feeding time, he is right out there with everyone else acting like they have not been fed in months.
If he is new - let him adjust.

 

[lobstergrabber]

I have had my pair for a while now and they still tend to hide behind a rock about half the day. They always come out when I feed the tank though and if I clean the glass they are all over my hands.
Rich

 

[captainemo]

He has been in there almost a month.

 

[petjunkie]

I've heard they do better in groups. I had a large cleaner in a 55 gallon and he hid all the time so I added a second one and they starting killing things but were out and about more. I gave away the first cleaner and kept the second and the problems stopped, this shrimp is not shy at all. Maybe it just depends on the individual shrimp.

 

[dc2mlbsm]

i had two as of monday but they died today, but anyways one of them was always outside swimming around and the other one was always hiding. so i guess it depends on their personality.