Blood red cleaner shrimp?

[NaCl+H2O]

I went for a visit to my LFS today, and while drooling over all their fish and inverts, I came upon this drop dead gorgeous brilliant red shrimp.

The gentleman that owns the shop told me it was a blood red cleaner shrimp, and while it was good at cleaning, it would possibly go after soft corals. I also heard they are very reclusive and you never really see them.

True?

I'd love such a pretty little guy in my tank (when it's ready) but if I'm not going to see him, and his brilliant red color-why bother?

I'd also worry once I get corals-the main reason for the tank is to have corals!

 

Thanks!

[justaguy2]

I went for a visit to my LFS today, and while drooling over all their fish and inverts, I came upon this drop dead gorgeous brilliant red shrimp.

The gentleman that owns the shop told me it was a blood red cleaner shrimp, and while it was good at cleaning, it would possibly go after soft corals. I also heard they are very reclusive and you never really see them.

True?

I'd love such a pretty little guy in my tank (when it's ready) but if I'm not going to see him, and his brilliant red color-why bother?

I'd also worry once I get corals-the main reason for the tank is to have corals!

 

Thanks!

 

I believe you are referring to the fire shrimp. Never had one so can't say how reclusive they are. Skunk cleaners (the ones with the red stripes down their back) are very sociable and nearly always out and about if you want a shrimp that looks good and doesn't hide all the time.

[scot63us]

I believe you are referring to the fire shrimp. Never had one so can't say how reclusive they are. Skunk cleaners (the ones with the red stripes down their back) are very sociable and nearly always out and about if you want a shrimp that looks good and doesn't hide all the time.

 

I have a fire shrimp and skunk cleaner shrimp in my tank and both tend to remain visible throughout the day, but the fire shrimp hides at night. The cleaner shrimp will do more cleaning of the fish in the tank, but I have seen the fire shrimp clean a few times. The fire shrimp definetly comes out in the morning during feeding and is more shy then the cleaner shrimp, but I do see the fire shrimp enough during the day as to not regret getting it.

 

But if I could only get one of the two, I'd pick the skunk cleaner shrimp, it looks cool enough, but really earns it's keep in the tank by cleaning the fish. It's also more curious and bold. It will come to my hand and try to clean me, when I'm arranging something in the tank, where as the fire shrimp will hide.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Scot

[NaCl+H2O]

Thanks for the replies! So, if I did decide to get this fire shrimp, I could also have a skunk cleaner? Also-what about the corals? Do you have any soft coral issues at all?

[Detritus07]

I just got a second blood shrimp to keep the one i got company. Doesnt bother the corals and is always visiblein my tank . They will eat from your hand. I recently noticed one cleaning my purple pseudochromi. By far my favorite critter in the tank. Other shrimps look boring to me.

When feeding the tank, they may run across your zoas causing them to close for minute, but most shrimp will I suppose.

[NaCl+H2O]

I just got a second blood shrimp to keep the one i got company. Doesnt bother the corals and is always visiblein my tank . They will eat from your hand. I recently noticed one cleaning my purple pseudochromi. By far my favorite critter in the tank. Other shrimps look boring to me.

When feeding the tank, they may run across your zoas causing them to close for minute, but most shrimp will I suppose.

Ahh-that sounds like what I'm looking for! I want to make sure my corals and other inverts will be safe, and I want to see him, and hopefully have one that is friendly I guess you'd call it.

Thank you! Now, to tell the LFS guy that I'll be needing one in a few weeks! (along with a skunk cleaner!)

 

I can't wait to begin stocking my tank!

[tallulah]

I have one in my 12G, have had him for about 5 months. He is pretty cool. he is more reclusive than the peppermint shrimp I used to have but over the time i have had him he has become more... outgoing so to speak. he has his usual crevice which is on one side of the tank but comes out several times daily when I am watching to pick at things or clean things. He is not afraid of me and always comes over to investigate when I am cleaning or have my hand in the tank. He will clean around my fingernails and sometimes attempts to clean my fish but they usually swim away, they are the same size pretty much and I think he wigs them out Oh yeah and he doesnt do anything bad to my softies except sometimes steal the mysis i put on my riccs. I'd recommend him but sometimes I wish he was as active as my pep shrimp was.

[Fish]

Just a note about my experience with skunk cleaner shrimp: I ended up taking mine back to the LFS because he was constantly trompsing all over the corals. My zoos were just about closed all the time. As soon as they would begin to open back up, he'd be walking all over them again. Now I have a rather large peppermint and he pretty much leaves the coral alone. He's always out and about but seems to stick to the rocks and sand and not so much on the zoos. Plus, I've never ever seen an aptasia in my tank (an added peppermint shrimp bonus). I do, however, love the look of the blood/fire shrimp. I'm in the process of setting up another nano and am considering getting one. They are definately striking

[syntax_error]

I have a fire shrimp in my BC29. They will find a shady place and hang out there most of the day. He doesn’t harm any corals and inverts but steals food from my rock flower anemone. I haven’t seen him to much cleaning except when I feed the tank and will grab hold of the pipette. IMO, if you want a shrimp that stays out a lot go for the skunk cleaner. If you want a more beautiful specimen go for the fire shrimp. Also, as far as I know, you can keep both a skunk cleaner and a fire shrimp together provided there’s enough food for both.

[JBJnAnOcuBe24DX]

Just want everyone’s opinion would you be able to keep a coral banded shrimp and a skunk cleaner? I get different answers from everyone. I already have a coral banded shrimp, and want to add a skunk cleaner. will they be fine in the same tank. I have a 24G JBJ.