valentini and peppermint shrimp

[kbarnett]

I have a valentini puffer about 2 inch and already had 2 peppermint shrimp in my tank the valentini hasn't ever tried to eat them but he will come right up next to them with his side facing the shrimp and just hovers there for several seconds. I'm curious as to why he does this is he trying to get cleaned or what? anyone have any ideas?

 

[jay0705]

Eyeing up a meal lol. There just too big rt now. Could be cleaning, but idk. Mine pecked at hermits when I first put him in but since ignores them

 

[kbarnett]

Eyeing up a meal lol. There just too big rt now. Could be cleaning, but idk. Mine pecked at hermits when I first put him in but since ignores them

The valentini never pecks at the shrimp only the little hermit crabs. i have a larger crab with large pinchers and I've even seen the puffer hover in front of it too and I'm pretty sure he's not thinking about eating that crab. i almost feel like its just curious he seems to be pretty friendly with the two clown fish also. i swear it reminds me of a dog trying to get someone to scratch its belly its pretty cute and funny to watch.

 

[pegasus]

Throw a skunk cleaner shrimp (or two) in and see what happens. If one of them cleans it, he may not ever consider shrimp as food.

 

[jay0705]

They do have personality. It could just be curiosity