Which shrimp to get?

Shadysjl · 02/01/2012, 04:15 PM

Im about to buy my first cleaners & Coral at the weekend. There is currently only live rock in there.
Its a 9-10gallon nano tank.
I want to get a shrimp but I think I may only be able to get 1 considering the size of the tank? I fear they may fight if I get more than one..

Anyway.. Question is.. Which shrimp would be ok in that size tank. A skunk or fire shrimp? I like the look of the fire shrimp but I want the easiest & smallest.

Can I get my first coral at the same time as a shrimp? Or one before the other?

Thank you!!

Saltydrip · 02/01/2012, 04:30 PM

I am a fan of the skunk. They do more cleaning than other shrimp. I dont think there is much of a size difference between the 2. With that small a system I would add as little as posable at a time.

Alex482455 · 02/01/2012, 04:33 PM

I would go with skunk as they are more friendly.y fire shrimp is mean as my skunk comes to the top of the tank to get hand fed and also clean my finger

.

bnumair · 02/01/2012, 04:50 PM

yes a Skunk or more common name cleaner shrimp is probably ur best bet.

SneakyPete · 02/01/2012, 05:00 PM

My skunk cleaner is quite possibly my favorite thing in the tank, definitely recommend one. He is extremely active and friendly. Plus he rides along on my hand when I'm siphoning out flatworms or spot feeding corals.

StephLionfish · 02/01/2012, 05:09 PM

I'd get a Pederson Cleaner shrimp. They are anemone shrimp, but they will clean your finger and fish just like the Skunk Cleaner will. They stay small, so they would be better fit for your tank.
If you where to go with the Pederson, you could have a small group of Sexy shrimp. Toss some Maxi Mini Carpet Anemones in there for the Sexies to dance around on, and the Pederson will likely take to the nems, too.
( Maxi Mini Nems are much easier to care for than the other, larger anemones like Bubble Tips. They also don't need as much light )

UCT · 02/01/2012, 05:41 PM

Watch your nitrates. I had a peppermint shrimp that died after a few days. Nitrates were really high and I am betting that is the reason.

sainty333 · 02/01/2012, 06:37 PM

I have had both skunk and a fire shrimp. Although the fire looks a little nicer, the skunk was way more active and gives a nice little tickle everytime you put your hands in the tank.

Alex482455 · 02/01/2012, 10:55 PM

not to steal the thread but is it possible to put a sexy shrimp with 2 skunk and a fire shrimp in a 40G? I already have the fire and the cleaner shrimp.

robertjk7005 · 02/02/2012, 10:58 AM

i have 3 diff shrimp in my tank; a skunk cleaner, fire shrimp, and peppermint and would recommend the skunk cleaner only for the fact that is the one i see the most. i only see the fire shrimp about once a week if i'm lucky and the peppermint every other day. but i see my skunk cleaner every day.

haftafish · 02/02/2012, 12:04 PM

I have one skunk and two peppermints in my 75g. I would go for the skunk it has more character.

aleonn · 02/02/2012, 12:20 PM

I'd get a hardy coral first before getting any invert at this point. From what I gather, your tank still seems pretty new, and any type of water parameter fluctuation may lead to premature death of the shrimp.

The hardy coral you get now (assuming you have adequate lighting as well) can serve as a "canary" of sorts for your future shrimp. If the coral's polyps are extended and happy consistently due to good water parameters and lighting (suggesting a stable system), then go for the shrimp.

I agree with above posters about getting a skunk cleaner shrimp over blood red/fire shrimp. Although the red shrimp look a lot nicer IMO, the skunk cleaners have more personality and functionality.

sponger0 · 02/02/2012, 01:38 PM

I have to say...to go against what most have said, my fire shrimp isnt mean but he is skiddish and shy. Ive tried to convince him Im a good guy but he just doesnt believe it lol

bellis31 · 02/02/2012, 01:48 PM

I have a Fire Shrimp that is not shy or mean... He climbs my arm when I am cleaning the tank and comes up to get food from my hand... He spends all day in a cave in the front of my tank!

Dustin1300 · 02/02/2012, 03:32 PM

I'm with bellis31 and I've had both. My fire shrimp was just as friendly and active and would climb up my arm every time I reached into tank. Much like people, personalities can differ

02/01/2012, 04:15 PM	#1
Shadysjl Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 113	Which shrimp to get? Im about to buy my first cleaners & Coral at the weekend. There is currently only live rock in there. Its a 9-10gallon nano tank. I want to get a shrimp but I think I may only be able to get 1 considering the size of the tank? I fear they may fight if I get more than one.. Anyway.. Question is.. Which shrimp would be ok in that size tank. A skunk or fire shrimp? I like the look of the fire shrimp but I want the easiest & smallest. Can I get my first coral at the same time as a shrimp? Or one before the other? Thank you!!

02/01/2012, 04:30 PM	#2
Saltydrip Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 1,826	I am a fan of the skunk. They do more cleaning than other shrimp. I dont think there is much of a size difference between the 2. With that small a system I would add as little as posable at a time. __________________ Current tank 48" 75g DT w/ 55g sump/fuge.

02/01/2012, 04:33 PM	#3
Alex482455 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 304	I would go with skunk as they are more friendly.y fire shrimp is mean as my skunk comes to the top of the tank to get hand fed and also clean my finger . __________________ Equipment: Koralio 425gph, Polario 4M, Marine Land 350, seaclone 100 SKimmer, 24Watt UV, MH & PC Light 280W Stock: Purple Firefly, B&W Ocellaris Clown, YLW Corris & Red Head Wrasse Current Tank Info: 40G Breeder FOWLR

02/01/2012, 04:50 PM	#4
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	yes a Skunk or more common name cleaner shrimp is probably ur best bet. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

02/01/2012, 05:00 PM	#5
SneakyPete I see you Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northwestern Minnesota Posts: 513	My skunk cleaner is quite possibly my favorite thing in the tank, definitely recommend one. He is extremely active and friendly. Plus he rides along on my hand when I'm siphoning out flatworms or spot feeding corals. __________________ 40B in recovery mode Trumpet coral, Kenya tree, unknown Zoa Skunk Cleaner, 2 Ocellaris Clowns, Royal Gramma Current Tank Info: 40B w 29 sump. 50 lbs rock

02/01/2012, 05:09 PM	#6
StephLionfish Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,836	I'd get a Pederson Cleaner shrimp. They are anemone shrimp, but they will clean your finger and fish just like the Skunk Cleaner will. They stay small, so they would be better fit for your tank. If you where to go with the Pederson, you could have a small group of Sexy shrimp. Toss some Maxi Mini Carpet Anemones in there for the Sexies to dance around on, and the Pederson will likely take to the nems, too. ( Maxi Mini Nems are much easier to care for than the other, larger anemones like Bubble Tips. They also don't need as much light ) __________________ The most intelligent people ask the most questions.

02/01/2012, 05:41 PM	#7
UCT Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: 90720 Posts: 142	Watch your nitrates. I had a peppermint shrimp that died after a few days. Nitrates were really high and I am betting that is the reason.

02/01/2012, 06:37 PM	#8
sainty333 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Duluth Minnesota (superior WI) Posts: 63	I have had both skunk and a fire shrimp. Although the fire looks a little nicer, the skunk was way more active and gives a nice little tickle everytime you put your hands in the tank.

02/01/2012, 10:55 PM	#9
Alex482455 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 304	not to steal the thread but is it possible to put a sexy shrimp with 2 skunk and a fire shrimp in a 40G? I already have the fire and the cleaner shrimp. __________________ Equipment: Koralio 425gph, Polario 4M, Marine Land 350, seaclone 100 SKimmer, 24Watt UV, MH & PC Light 280W Stock: Purple Firefly, B&W Ocellaris Clown, YLW Corris & Red Head Wrasse Current Tank Info: 40G Breeder FOWLR

02/02/2012, 10:58 AM	#10
robertjk7005 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Piscataway, nj Posts: 152	i have 3 diff shrimp in my tank; a skunk cleaner, fire shrimp, and peppermint and would recommend the skunk cleaner only for the fact that is the one i see the most. i only see the fire shrimp about once a week if i'm lucky and the peppermint every other day. but i see my skunk cleaner every day. __________________ 120Gal mixed reef tank w/ 50Gal sump/refuge, chinese led lights, Euroreef skimmer, 200lbs LR, 80LBs fiji sand.

02/02/2012, 12:04 PM	#11
haftafish Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Hardwick NJ Posts: 191	I have one skunk and two peppermints in my 75g. I would go for the skunk it has more character.

02/02/2012, 12:20 PM	#12
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	I'd get a hardy coral first before getting any invert at this point. From what I gather, your tank still seems pretty new, and any type of water parameter fluctuation may lead to premature death of the shrimp. The hardy coral you get now (assuming you have adequate lighting as well) can serve as a "canary" of sorts for your future shrimp. If the coral's polyps are extended and happy consistently due to good water parameters and lighting (suggesting a stable system), then go for the shrimp. I agree with above posters about getting a skunk cleaner shrimp over blood red/fire shrimp. Although the red shrimp look a lot nicer IMO, the skunk cleaners have more personality and functionality.

02/02/2012, 01:38 PM	#13
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	I have to say...to go against what most have said, my fire shrimp isnt mean but he is skiddish and shy. Ive tried to convince him Im a good guy but he just doesnt believe it lol

02/02/2012, 01:48 PM	#14
bellis31 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Sacramento, Ca Posts: 1,021	I have a Fire Shrimp that is not shy or mean... He climbs my arm when I am cleaning the tank and comes up to get food from my hand... He spends all day in a cave in the front of my tank! __________________ 80g Custom + 29g Sump BM Curve 5 Skimmer - Eheim 1262 Return Pump 2 Vortech MP10wes + 2 Vortech MP40wes 2 Radion G3's + Apex Jr Controller + WXM

02/02/2012, 03:32 PM	#15
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	I'm with bellis31 and I've had both. My fire shrimp was just as friendly and active and would climb up my arm every time I reached into tank. Much like people, personalities can differ __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT