My Cleaner Shrimp Doesn't Know He A "Cleaner Shrimp"

Lpabsolute · 04/30/2006, 02:58 PM

Had a small cleaner shrimp in my tank for about 4 months. He never leaves this one tiny rock at the bottom of my tank. And he doesn't even clean the rock he stays on. He just sits there. I've even watched him at night under the moonlights and never goes anywhere else in the tank. Only leaves his tiny rock when i feed the tank. The only upside to this is that he's always visable and never hidden. Maybe it measn I have a really clean tank? Anyone else have the problem? ?? ???

Henry22 · 04/30/2006, 03:14 PM

Cleaner shrimp clean fish, not rocks. They pick off the rocks, but don't clean them

Debin · 04/30/2006, 03:17 PM

The term "cleaner shrimp" applies to their ability to clean fish from parasites, not cleaning the tank. All of mine have always found 1 rock or alcove where they make their "cleaning" station and hardly ever leaves that spot. Unless i feed or a fish swims by that needs attention, then he dutifully hops on that fish. I don't think your cleaner shrimp is doing anything odd. Does he pay any attention to your fish? what types of fish do you have in with him?

Lpabsolute · 04/30/2006, 04:23 PM

Have two small clowns, pipefish, cardnial. He never pays attention to my fish. Thanks for the replys. Just wanted to make sure he was ok and doing his job.

asnatlas · 04/30/2006, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lpabsolute
Just wanted to make sure he was ok and doing his job.

LOL, if he isn't, you going to fire him ??

Lpabsolute · 04/30/2006, 05:36 PM

lol.....He would get replaced.

affan · 04/30/2006, 05:41 PM

Maybe you should up his salary.

gfk · 04/30/2006, 06:01 PM

my clowns dont let my cleaner clean them, so he just kinda chills on a rock now til i put food in. he used to clean my bi color blenny though

Ti · 04/30/2006, 06:50 PM

it happens

Purple Haze · 04/30/2006, 06:54 PM

peel him and fry him up with some butter

Henry22 · 04/30/2006, 07:00 PM

Maybe get another and see, they are asexual(thats not the right word)? They change sexes so no matter what you get a boy and a girl.

LeslieH · 04/30/2006, 07:04 PM

Are you positive it's a cleaner despite what the LFS may have said?

omni2226 · 04/30/2006, 07:25 PM

Well they will scavange food and stuff off the rocks and sand so in that sense they are tank cleaners too I guess.

Andy O · 04/30/2006, 07:28 PM

He may be cleaning at night when the fish aren't as active (when you are not watching). Also, it may be the fish that will not let him clean. My wrasses are like this with my cleaner but my hippo tang lets him clean.

I tend to find that my neon gobies do a better job of cleaning parasites off of the fish in my tank than my cleaner shrimp.

Lpabsolute · 04/30/2006, 08:44 PM

LeslieH - It is a cleaner shrimp

Lpabsolute · 04/30/2006, 08:45 PM

Purple Haze - Maybe when it gets bigger

GOOD IDEA

Mike.B · 05/01/2006, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ti
it happens

I havent seen a post yet where you say more than 3 words!

XeniaMania · 05/01/2006, 02:26 AM

I think someone watched too much Finding Nemo

robplonker · 05/01/2006, 05:50 AM

as fish have there own varied personalities, so do shrimp.
my "cleaner" shrimp doesnt clean any of my fish. but its pot luck when you buy one, they either clean or they dont.

my shrimp tries to attack my fish when they come too close!

buy a cleaner wrasse, much more effective and guarenteed to clean.

i have a couple of clowns and a pj cardinal too and they hate being cleaned, i dont think they get a lot of probs though.

jasper24 · 05/01/2006, 06:15 AM

I have a cleaner with 2 clowns, a six line, and a yellow tang. The tang is the only fish that will let the cleaner do his job.

asnatlas · 05/01/2006, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by subzero420
I havent seen a post yet where you say more than 3 words!

These two threads he has alittle more to say then 3 words

Myth Busters! RC Style

How much does blue light aid in photosynthesis?

Anemonebuff · 05/01/2006, 07:50 AM

If the tank is well fed, cleaners will just eat what you feed and skip cleaning fish. However, mine always had time to clean my hands and forearms.

asnatlas · 05/01/2006, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by robplonker
buy a cleaner wrasse, much more effective and guarenteed to clean.

I have heard that cleaner wrasse don't do very well in an aquarium...

Cleaner wrasse

Cleaner wrasse

Cleaner wrasse surprise

cleaner or false cleaner

XeniaMania · 05/01/2006, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by robplonker
as fish have there own varied personalities, so do shrimp.
my "cleaner" shrimp doesnt clean any of my fish. but its pot luck when you buy one, they either clean or they dont.

my shrimp tries to attack my fish when they come too close!

buy a cleaner wrasse, much more effective and guarenteed to clean.

i have a couple of clowns and a pj cardinal too and they hate being cleaned, i dont think they get a lot of probs though.

Cleaning is not a personality issue. It's something that's innate to the shrimps, to jump on fish and clean them. Size is often an issue, you can't expect a full grown cleaner that's bigger than a clown to clean the clown for example.

Lpabsolute · 05/01/2006, 02:31 PM

Anemonebuff - I agree my shrimp only tries to clean my hand when i stick it in the tank for whatever reason. Weird at first but you kinda get use to it. It's like he's saying "Hey, get me out of here" LOL

04/30/2006, 02:58 PM	#1
Lpabsolute Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Johns Island, SC Posts: 2,021	My Cleaner Shrimp Doesn't Know He A "Cleaner Shrimp" Had a small cleaner shrimp in my tank for about 4 months. He never leaves this one tiny rock at the bottom of my tank. And he doesn't even clean the rock he stays on. He just sits there. I've even watched him at night under the moonlights and never goes anywhere else in the tank. Only leaves his tiny rock when i feed the tank. The only upside to this is that he's always visable and never hidden. Maybe it measn I have a really clean tank? Anyone else have the problem? ?? ???

04/30/2006, 03:14 PM	#2
Henry22 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 712	Cleaner shrimp clean fish, not rocks. They pick off the rocks, but don't clean them __________________ 15 Gallon Tall Reef w/ a lonely orange spotted watchman goby Current Tank Info: 15 gallon Tall Reef

04/30/2006, 04:23 PM	#4
Lpabsolute Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Johns Island, SC Posts: 2,021	Have two small clowns, pipefish, cardnial. He never pays attention to my fish. Thanks for the replys. Just wanted to make sure he was ok and doing his job. __________________ "Do not float above me when I'm drowning in the abyss......float away from me.........float away" Current Tank Info: 54g Corner Reef Tank......and......5.5g Nano Reef Tank......and......20g Long Reef Tank.......and......27g Cube

04/30/2006, 05:36 PM	#6
Lpabsolute Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Johns Island, SC Posts: 2,021	lol.....He would get replaced. __________________ "Do not float above me when I'm drowning in the abyss......float away from me.........float away" Current Tank Info: 54g Corner Reef Tank......and......5.5g Nano Reef Tank......and......20g Long Reef Tank.......and......27g Cube

04/30/2006, 06:50 PM	#9
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	it happens __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

04/30/2006, 03:17 PM	#3
Debin Registered Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 54	The term "cleaner shrimp" applies to their ability to clean fish from parasites, not cleaning the tank. All of mine have always found 1 rock or alcove where they make their "cleaning" station and hardly ever leaves that spot. Unless i feed or a fish swims by that needs attention, then he dutifully hops on that fish. I don't think your cleaner shrimp is doing anything odd. Does he pay any attention to your fish? what types of fish do you have in with him?

04/30/2006, 05:41 PM	#7
affan Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: From NYC, currently serving time in Hattiesburg, MS Posts: 1,125	Maybe you should up his salary.

04/30/2006, 06:01 PM	#8
gfk Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Benicia, CA Posts: 1,601	my clowns dont let my cleaner clean them, so he just kinda chills on a rock now til i put food in. he used to clean my bi color blenny though

04/30/2006, 06:54 PM	#10
Purple Haze Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: TX Posts: 1,156	peel him and fry him up with some butter

04/30/2006, 07:00 PM	#11
Henry22 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 712	Maybe get another and see, they are asexual(thats not the right word)? They change sexes so no matter what you get a boy and a girl. __________________ 15 Gallon Tall Reef w/ a lonely orange spotted watchman goby Current Tank Info: 15 gallon Tall Reef

04/30/2006, 07:04 PM	#12
LeslieH Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,178	Are you positive it's a cleaner despite what the LFS may have said? __________________ Cheers, Leslie So many worms, so little time... Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

04/30/2006, 07:25 PM	#13
omni2226 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Middle Florida Posts: 774	Well they will scavange food and stuff off the rocks and sand so in that sense they are tank cleaners too I guess. __________________ I know enough to know I know nothing. Current Tank Info: 55 Marine. 29 Freshwater planted.

04/30/2006, 07:28 PM	#14
Andy O Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 201	He may be cleaning at night when the fish aren't as active (when you are not watching). Also, it may be the fish that will not let him clean. My wrasses are like this with my cleaner but my hippo tang lets him clean. I tend to find that my neon gobies do a better job of cleaning parasites off of the fish in my tank than my cleaner shrimp.

04/30/2006, 08:44 PM	#15
Lpabsolute Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Johns Island, SC Posts: 2,021	LeslieH - It is a cleaner shrimp __________________ "Do not float above me when I'm drowning in the abyss......float away from me.........float away" Current Tank Info: 54g Corner Reef Tank......and......5.5g Nano Reef Tank......and......20g Long Reef Tank.......and......27g Cube

04/30/2006, 08:45 PM	#16
Lpabsolute Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Johns Island, SC Posts: 2,021	Purple Haze - Maybe when it gets bigger GOOD IDEA __________________ "Do not float above me when I'm drowning in the abyss......float away from me.........float away" Current Tank Info: 54g Corner Reef Tank......and......5.5g Nano Reef Tank......and......20g Long Reef Tank.......and......27g Cube

05/01/2006, 02:26 AM	#18
XeniaMania Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 1,627	I think someone watched too much Finding Nemo

05/01/2006, 05:50 AM	#19
robplonker Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 11	as fish have there own varied personalities, so do shrimp. my "cleaner" shrimp doesnt clean any of my fish. but its pot luck when you buy one, they either clean or they dont. my shrimp tries to attack my fish when they come too close! buy a cleaner wrasse, much more effective and guarenteed to clean. i have a couple of clowns and a pj cardinal too and they hate being cleaned, i dont think they get a lot of probs though.

05/01/2006, 06:15 AM	#20
jasper24 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 2,120	I have a cleaner with 2 clowns, a six line, and a yellow tang. The tang is the only fish that will let the cleaner do his job.

05/01/2006, 07:50 AM	#22
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	If the tank is well fed, cleaners will just eat what you feed and skip cleaning fish. However, mine always had time to clean my hands and forearms.

05/01/2006, 02:31 PM	#25
Lpabsolute Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Johns Island, SC Posts: 2,021	Anemonebuff - I agree my shrimp only tries to clean my hand when i stick it in the tank for whatever reason. Weird at first but you kinda get use to it. It's like he's saying "Hey, get me out of here" LOL __________________ "Do not float above me when I'm drowning in the abyss......float away from me.........float away" Current Tank Info: 54g Corner Reef Tank......and......5.5g Nano Reef Tank......and......20g Long Reef Tank.......and......27g Cube