Truth About Coral Banded Shrimp

[mikersof]

I was just surfing websites looking to see what's out there. I came across a site that offers "Bristleworm Exterminator Packages" and for the 80 gal, the package includes 5--that is FIVE Coral Banded Shrimp. This is meant to go into one 80 Gal tank.
Another site tells me, "They may also be aggressive to other types of shrimp, especially in a smaller space."
Yet SWF.com's site while saying, "Keep only one per tank" also says, "They...will not harm other shrimp or fish, unless provoked." I wish they would define "unless provoked."
I think the Coral Banded Shrimp is awesome and would love to add one to my 80 but what would he do to my cleaner shrimp ($30 a pop) and my peppermint shrimp?
Y'all help me understand the true nature of the CBS?
THANKS!
james =)

 

[nereef]

you'll probably get some responses like, "i keep mine with tons of other shrimp with no problems." but i think you hit the nail on the head. i wouldn't trust one with any other expensive shrimp.

 

[matt819]

All i know is that after I put my coral banded in...my cleaner shrimp was never seen again. Mine seems to be pretty aggressive. When I add new fish to the tank, and that fish finds a little nook to chill in right away, the CBS will hunt it down and try to pinch at it with his claws. He's pretty mean...although I've had a camelback shrimp in there the whole time. If I could do it all over again...I'd probably just get more cleaners, and scratch the CBS...now I feel limited, and the CBS just hides all the time behind rocks.

 

[nycbob]

i hv a cbs 1st, then added 4 cleaner skunks w 2 peppermints. they r all still in my 72 gallon tank. look up the pics i posted as proof. just keep ut cbs well fed. my cbs does go up to other shrimps, but they r quick enough to move away. i hv 150lbs of live rocks.

 

[mace]

I had one with 2 cleaners with no problems that I saw. But it did harrass my fish their fins were all cut up from him.... Never again.

 

[swabearf16]

I reckon it depends on the shrimp's disposition. I have one that lives in the same tank as a Skunk Cleaner and several fish. He pretty much hangs out in one part of the tank. The Skunk hangs out at the other end of the tank. No problems so far. However, I do occasionally hand him a small piece of Silverside. Maybe that helps....I don't really know.

 

[xdave]

This will sound totally wrong but a lot of people have told me that if you keep a pair (not just 2 but an actual boy girl pair) they tend to leave other shrimp alone but a single one will generally be more aggressive.

 

[jmesmcm]

I have had one for about a year in a 120 with 2 cleaners and 4 peppermints with no issues. The CBS tends to hide in the rock and only come out during feeding while my cleaners are almost always front and center and my peppermints hang out together in a little cave near the bottom of the tank. Think it probably depends on the rock structures and currents as to where the shrimp like to be. I have noticed that the CBS is much more likely to come out after the halides have gone off, while the cleaners are out more while the halides are on.

 

[hocky]

I added a cleaner to my tank with a CBS, the CBS had eaten him within 2 days.