dont they want to be cleaned?!

skidoll · 11/18/2010, 11:28 AM

I bought two cleaner shrimp who hang out together on the rocks. The fish seem to be curious about them, and the shrimp's tentacles kind of tickle the fish. But don't the fish want to be cleaned? I'm assuming the shrimp use their claws to clean, not the tentacles? My fish don't seem to stay long enough to have a cleaning. I guess I'm confused....do your fish ignore the shrimp??? Thx.

greech · 11/18/2010, 11:40 AM

My clowns ignore my cleaner but my Potter's angel stopped by now and then when I had it.

The only time I saw my female clown get cleaned was after my 1st male came down with what I believe was brook and passed. The female started showing the same signs a few days later but with stepped up feedings and a few cleanings from the shrimp she made a full recover and is still with me after a little over a year. She never seemed to like the cleanings though and seemed generally annoyed with the fact that she had to do it

I think some fish like it/need it more than others.

saltymight · 11/18/2010, 12:57 PM

My cleaner shrimp chase my clowns, but they get away. I only seen angel's and my diamond goby get cleaned.

Sk8r · 11/18/2010, 01:00 PM

Cleaner shrimp or neon gobies in a small tank can actually irritate fish skin because the shrimp get too aggressive and injure the fish. The fish need room to get away from them until they want the service.

Whisperer · 11/18/2010, 01:59 PM

Not all fish go for cleaning service. Most angels, tangs and butterflies love to get cleaned. Hawkfish and bigger cardinals, however, will clean your shrimp.

.

Floowid · 11/18/2010, 02:00 PM

My yellow tang will let the cleaner shrimp know when he wants some service. Otherwise the shrimp has stopped bothering the fish, but he is a mad pig gone wild when I dump some pellets in the water.

cdeboard · 11/18/2010, 02:05 PM

My foxface loves it... and my diamond goby will let the cleaner shrimp clean the inside of his mouth. My other tangs and things dont really stop by for a cleaning.

Jstadler · 11/18/2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floowid

My yellow tang will let the cleaner shrimp know when he wants some service. Otherwise the shrimp has stopped bothering the fish, but he is a mad pig gone wild when I dump some pellets in the water.

Mine loves the pellets too, last night he probably stuffed a dozen of them in his stomach. Me and my son where just sitting the laughing at him stuffing himself.

skidoll · 11/18/2010, 02:30 PM

My two seem pretty passive, so far. They don't chase the fish, but when my curious kids come looking at them, you can tell the shrimp are eager. They'll all be moving to their big tank this weekend!

Angel*Fish · 11/18/2010, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whisperer

Not all fish go for cleaning service. Most angels, tangs and butterflies love to get cleaned. Hawkfish and bigger cardinals, however, will clean your shrimp.

.

Floowid · 11/18/2010, 04:29 PM

Mine will "clean" my hand if I put it in the tank and leave it still next to him for a second. He can get pretty aggressive, and I can feel him tearing away at dead skin and stuff. It feels really weird when he gets under the fingernails.

cloak · 11/18/2010, 05:08 PM

Watching a shrimp clean your fish is fun to watch and all, but it's not really something you want to see on a regular basis if you catch my drift. You would have to assume the fish is perfectly healthy if it wants nothing to do with the shrimp, and that's exactly what I'm shooting for.

Indymann99 · 11/18/2010, 05:10 PM

my Heni and Yellow tang will go for a cleaning about every other week.

link to video
http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Cleaning-1.flv

The cleaner shrimp will jump on your hand when cleaning
both going at my 7yr old sons hand

Whisperer · 11/18/2010, 05:26 PM

Man, you need to QT your hand!

Indymann99 · 11/18/2010, 05:39 PM

the hand is my 7yr old so prob lots of boogers and such to clean

just kidding... he knows he has to wash his hands very well and rinse thoroughly before putting them in the tank.

skidoll · 11/18/2010, 06:22 PM

Well, I'm going to accept it as a good thing that my fish aren't being cleansed. Lol they're very healthy, to my partially trained eye, healthy eaters, no ich....so i'd assume their parasites are at a minimum.

11/18/2010, 11:28 AM	#1
skidoll Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 93	dont they want to be cleaned?! I bought two cleaner shrimp who hang out together on the rocks. The fish seem to be curious about them, and the shrimp's tentacles kind of tickle the fish. But don't the fish want to be cleaned? I'm assuming the shrimp use their claws to clean, not the tentacles? My fish don't seem to stay long enough to have a cleaning. I guess I'm confused....do your fish ignore the shrimp??? Thx.

11/18/2010, 11:40 AM	#2
greech Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tallahassee, FL Posts: 3,133	My clowns ignore my cleaner but my Potter's angel stopped by now and then when I had it. The only time I saw my female clown get cleaned was after my 1st male came down with what I believe was brook and passed. The female started showing the same signs a few days later but with stepped up feedings and a few cleanings from the shrimp she made a full recover and is still with me after a little over a year. She never seemed to like the cleanings though and seemed generally annoyed with the fact that she had to do it I think some fish like it/need it more than others. __________________ ~Graham Current Tank Info: Tank: 40 breeder; 20H sump w/SWC 120; Sicce 3.0 return; Vortech MP-10; Sundial T5, DIY Actinic LED (3W Cree). Livestock: Pair of Black & Whites; Midas Blenny; Firefish; Yasha/pistol; Black Leopard Wrasse; LPS and SPS

11/18/2010, 01:00 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Cleaner shrimp or neon gobies in a small tank can actually irritate fish skin because the shrimp get too aggressive and injure the fish. The fish need room to get away from them until they want the service. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

11/18/2010, 01:59 PM	#5
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	Not all fish go for cleaning service. Most angels, tangs and butterflies love to get cleaned. Hawkfish and bigger cardinals, however, will clean your shrimp. . __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

11/18/2010, 02:00 PM	#6
Floowid Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Centerville, UT Posts: 712	My yellow tang will let the cleaner shrimp know when he wants some service. Otherwise the shrimp has stopped bothering the fish, but he is a mad pig gone wild when I dump some pellets in the water. __________________ 75 gallon mixed reef

11/18/2010, 12:57 PM	#3
saltymight Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Clay, Ny Posts: 860	My cleaner shrimp chase my clowns, but they get away. I only seen angel's and my diamond goby get cleaned.

11/18/2010, 02:05 PM	#7
cdeboard Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Grayson, KY Posts: 520	My foxface loves it... and my diamond goby will let the cleaner shrimp clean the inside of his mouth. My other tangs and things dont really stop by for a cleaning. __________________ CVRC Current Tank Info: 90g

11/18/2010, 02:30 PM	#9
skidoll Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 93	My two seem pretty passive, so far. They don't chase the fish, but when my curious kids come looking at them, you can tell the shrimp are eager. They'll all be moving to their big tank this weekend!

11/18/2010, 04:29 PM	#11
Floowid Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Centerville, UT Posts: 712	Mine will "clean" my hand if I put it in the tank and leave it still next to him for a second. He can get pretty aggressive, and I can feel him tearing away at dead skin and stuff. It feels really weird when he gets under the fingernails. __________________ 75 gallon mixed reef

11/18/2010, 05:08 PM	#12
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Watching a shrimp clean your fish is fun to watch and all, but it's not really something you want to see on a regular basis if you catch my drift. You would have to assume the fish is perfectly healthy if it wants nothing to do with the shrimp, and that's exactly what I'm shooting for.

11/18/2010, 05:10 PM	#13
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	my Heni and Yellow tang will go for a cleaning about every other week. link to video http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/n...Cleaning-1.flv The cleaner shrimp will jump on your hand when cleaning both going at my 7yr old sons hand __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

11/18/2010, 05:26 PM	#14
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	Man, you need to QT your hand! __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

11/18/2010, 05:39 PM	#15
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	the hand is my 7yr old so prob lots of boogers and such to clean just kidding... he knows he has to wash his hands very well and rinse thoroughly before putting them in the tank. __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

11/18/2010, 06:22 PM	#16
skidoll Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 93	Well, I'm going to accept it as a good thing that my fish aren't being cleansed. Lol they're very healthy, to my partially trained eye, healthy eaters, no ich....so i'd assume their parasites are at a minimum.

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