Enticing shrimp out of hiding?

Robert M · 02/03/2015, 01:17 PM

I have had a few different shrimp in the time I've had my tank. Peppernints and skunks. Everyone one of them has been very shy. The cleaners would occasionally come out for feeding. The peppermints would too but still tucked back behind a rock, barely visible. Any way get them to come out more?

cloak · 02/03/2015, 01:28 PM

Plenty of food and time IME. This is all under the assumption that the fish you have are compatible though. I'd be ducking for cover too if I thought something was out to get me.

MondoBongo · 02/03/2015, 01:29 PM

if my peppermints don't come out during feeding time, then my only other real option to see them is at night after lights out.

they generally don't hang out in the open like their cousins the skunk cleaners do.

in fact, i've gone months without seeing my peppermints, assumed they were dead, only to catch a glimpse of them tucked in some tiny crevice somewhere.

ReefsandGeeks · 02/03/2015, 01:32 PM

I had a skunk who hid constantly unless I fed him, and now have a fire red shrimp who you'd think was dead unless you look back at the rock just the right way you can see a little bit of him. I get a glimps of him about once a month. A waste of $40 if you ask me. I wouldn't get another shrimp unless I did a more sparce rockwork like branching rock or something wihtout so many hiding spots

GilliganReef · 02/03/2015, 01:33 PM

Or in my case have skunk for year and half to find it missing one day after a molt. PJ cards are still under investigation for this murder.

SGT_York · 02/03/2015, 01:46 PM

Fire shrimp and perpermints are just naturally shy. Don't expect an animal to be something its not.

Cleaner skunks while not near as pretty have far more personality.

Robert M · 02/03/2015, 09:42 PM

I don't expect much from my peppermint shrimp. Not sure he's still alive either but most likely he is. I too don't see him for long stretches of time. There were two but I'm pretty sure the first died shortly after he was introduced. This is my 3rd skunk. Granted hes new but he has taken up in some of the same spots as the last two.

As far as predators go, the only potential predator I have (that I know of) is a long nose hawk. I've never seen him harass any shrimp, hermits, snails etc.

Before the others died, the one would come out when I fed them or when I put my hand in the tank.

tmz · 02/04/2015, 11:44 AM

I had a pistol shrimp for about 7 years, 2 over the normal lifespan. Never saw it except when I was cleaning, then then it would put it's claw3 ou and snap me. Pepermints are usually less shy at night.

Mark9 · 02/04/2015, 12:01 PM

I hand feed my cleaner shrimp.
He had a hard time catching food in the current.
Always in the open and comes right to me when he sees my hand.

02/03/2015, 01:17 PM	#1
Robert M Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 62	Enticing shrimp out of hiding? I have had a few different shrimp in the time I've had my tank. Peppernints and skunks. Everyone one of them has been very shy. The cleaners would occasionally come out for feeding. The peppermints would too but still tucked back behind a rock, barely visible. Any way get them to come out more?

02/03/2015, 01:29 PM	#3
MondoBongo Obligate Feeder Obsessed Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 4,061	if my peppermints don't come out during feeding time, then my only other real option to see them is at night after lights out. they generally don't hang out in the open like their cousins the skunk cleaners do. in fact, i've gone months without seeing my peppermints, assumed they were dead, only to catch a glimpse of them tucked in some tiny crevice somewhere. __________________ [Citation Needed] "You don't use science to show that you're right, you use science to become right" - xkcd Current Tank Info: A rectangular shaped money pit.

02/04/2015, 11:44 AM	#8
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	I had a pistol shrimp for about 7 years, 2 over the normal lifespan. Never saw it except when I was cleaning, then then it would put it's claw3 ou and snap me. Pepermints are usually less shy at night. __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

02/03/2015, 01:28 PM	#2
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	Plenty of food and time IME. This is all under the assumption that the fish you have are compatible though. I'd be ducking for cover too if I thought something was out to get me.

02/03/2015, 01:32 PM	#4
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	I had a skunk who hid constantly unless I fed him, and now have a fire red shrimp who you'd think was dead unless you look back at the rock just the right way you can see a little bit of him. I get a glimps of him about once a month. A waste of $40 if you ask me. I wouldn't get another shrimp unless I did a more sparce rockwork like branching rock or something wihtout so many hiding spots

02/03/2015, 01:33 PM	#5
GilliganReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 379	Or in my case have skunk for year and half to find it missing one day after a molt. PJ cards are still under investigation for this murder.

02/03/2015, 01:46 PM	#6
SGT_York Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Washington State Posts: 1,746	Fire shrimp and perpermints are just naturally shy. Don't expect an animal to be something its not. Cleaner skunks while not near as pretty have far more personality.

02/03/2015, 09:42 PM	#7
Robert M Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Posts: 62	I don't expect much from my peppermint shrimp. Not sure he's still alive either but most likely he is. I too don't see him for long stretches of time. There were two but I'm pretty sure the first died shortly after he was introduced. This is my 3rd skunk. Granted hes new but he has taken up in some of the same spots as the last two. As far as predators go, the only potential predator I have (that I know of) is a long nose hawk. I've never seen him harass any shrimp, hermits, snails etc. Before the others died, the one would come out when I fed them or when I put my hand in the tank.

02/04/2015, 12:01 PM	#9
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	I hand feed my cleaner shrimp. He had a hard time catching food in the current. Always in the open and comes right to me when he sees my hand.