cleaning parasites off of fish

reef_lover24881 · 01/28/2009, 05:03 PM

Are Fire Shrimp and Cleaner Shrimp reef safe? will they pick at any corals and has anyone actually seen them cleaning parasites off of fish? My Giant Metallic Green Mushroom ate all my Peppermint Shrimp will it eat a Fire Shrimp or Cleaner Shrimp?

brandon2432 · 01/28/2009, 05:12 PM

that is a funny question. I have had 2 coral banded shrimp in my tank for a year. I put a cleaner shrimp in my tank and within 5 min. I had a polyp kill it. Buy the biggest one you can get mine was kinda small. Hope that helps.

cdbias2 · 01/28/2009, 05:14 PM

Huh? A polyp?
What type?

reef_lover24881 · 01/28/2009, 06:03 PM

well can anyone tell me if those shrimps will pick at any corals?????

cdbias2 · 01/28/2009, 06:08 PM

I think the only one you have to be careful of is the Camel shrimp.(and harlequin shrimp of course)

NirvanaFan · 01/28/2009, 06:34 PM

It is possible that they will take nip at corals, but I would take the chance. Don't get a cleaner shrimp just to clean fish, you'll likely be disappointed. They are neat creatures and add life to the tank though.

sunfish11 · 01/28/2009, 08:46 PM

My fish use the cleaner shrimp a lot, although, I don't necessarily think they are removing parasites. The fish seem to like their attentions though and I always keep cleaners in a tank if possible.

As far as a shrimp dieing withing minutes of being added to a tank, it was more likely osmotic shock than a polyp killing it. They are sensitive to changes in salinity/sg. I had a old (2 years with me) cleaner shrimp that I had to transfer between tanks and even though acclimated he died within minutes.

Lisa

jesseakruger · 01/28/2009, 08:51 PM

cleaner shrimp dont eat any of my coral. neither do peppermint shrimp

sunfish11 · 01/28/2009, 08:55 PM

I have witnessed peppermints sampling some coral a few times. One clipped a few polyps off a goniphora and occasionally they will mess with other LPS. Cleaner shrimp - never.

Lisa

jbird69 · 01/28/2009, 09:00 PM

Yes, cleaner shrimp will pick at parasites on fish, They are not the answer to fish parasites tho. Your fish will likely develope a mutual relationship with the shrimp and go to get a massage every so often. I have not heard of them harming corals. They are an excellent addition to a reef tank.

reef_lover24881 · 01/29/2009, 12:28 AM

How about the Fire Shrimp do they pick at any corals?????

cdbias2 · 01/29/2009, 02:38 PM

Fire shrimp are reef safe.

01/28/2009, 05:03 PM	#1
reef_lover24881 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 162	cleaning parasites off of fish Are Fire Shrimp and Cleaner Shrimp reef safe? will they pick at any corals and has anyone actually seen them cleaning parasites off of fish? My Giant Metallic Green Mushroom ate all my Peppermint Shrimp will it eat a Fire Shrimp or Cleaner Shrimp? __________________ reef_lover Current Tank Info: Current USA Solana, 1/10 HP jbj Arctica Chiller, Current UV Sterilizer (15 watt), Current USA SunPod PowerPaq HQI Lamp & Lunar Lights (24" Kit 250 watts), and the Sapphire Solana/Cardiff Nanoskimmer.

01/28/2009, 06:03 PM	#4
reef_lover24881 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 162	well can anyone tell me if those shrimps will pick at any corals????? __________________ reef_lover Current Tank Info: Current USA Solana, 1/10 HP jbj Arctica Chiller, Current UV Sterilizer (15 watt), Current USA SunPod PowerPaq HQI Lamp & Lunar Lights (24" Kit 250 watts), and the Sapphire Solana/Cardiff Nanoskimmer.

01/28/2009, 09:00 PM	#10
jbird69 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The beautiful State of Jefferson Posts: 2,751	Yes, cleaner shrimp will pick at parasites on fish, They are not the answer to fish parasites tho. Your fish will likely develope a mutual relationship with the shrimp and go to get a massage every so often. I have not heard of them harming corals. They are an excellent addition to a reef tank. __________________ Broke Back Mountain is not a movie, its the pile of dead ninjas in Chuck Norris' back yard

01/29/2009, 12:28 AM	#11
reef_lover24881 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Valencia, CA Posts: 162	How about the Fire Shrimp do they pick at any corals????? __________________ reef_lover Current Tank Info: Current USA Solana, 1/10 HP jbj Arctica Chiller, Current UV Sterilizer (15 watt), Current USA SunPod PowerPaq HQI Lamp & Lunar Lights (24" Kit 250 watts), and the Sapphire Solana/Cardiff Nanoskimmer.

01/28/2009, 05:12 PM	#2
brandon2432 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kimberly AL Posts: 278	that is a funny question. I have had 2 coral banded shrimp in my tank for a year. I put a cleaner shrimp in my tank and within 5 min. I had a polyp kill it. Buy the biggest one you can get mine was kinda small. Hope that helps.

01/28/2009, 05:14 PM	#3
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	Huh? A polyp? What type?

01/28/2009, 06:08 PM	#5
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	I think the only one you have to be careful of is the Camel shrimp.(and harlequin shrimp of course)

01/28/2009, 06:34 PM	#6
NirvanaFan Reef Ninja Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 4,280	It is possible that they will take nip at corals, but I would take the chance. Don't get a cleaner shrimp just to clean fish, you'll likely be disappointed. They are neat creatures and add life to the tank though.

01/28/2009, 08:46 PM	#7
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	My fish use the cleaner shrimp a lot, although, I don't necessarily think they are removing parasites. The fish seem to like their attentions though and I always keep cleaners in a tank if possible. As far as a shrimp dieing withing minutes of being added to a tank, it was more likely osmotic shock than a polyp killing it. They are sensitive to changes in salinity/sg. I had a old (2 years with me) cleaner shrimp that I had to transfer between tanks and even though acclimated he died within minutes. Lisa

01/28/2009, 08:51 PM	#8
jesseakruger Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 107	cleaner shrimp dont eat any of my coral. neither do peppermint shrimp

01/28/2009, 08:55 PM	#9
sunfish11 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Weyauwega, WI Posts: 2,365	I have witnessed peppermints sampling some coral a few times. One clipped a few polyps off a goniphora and occasionally they will mess with other LPS. Cleaner shrimp - never. Lisa

01/29/2009, 02:38 PM	#12
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	Fire shrimp are reef safe.