What kind of cleaner shrimp??

mdisalvo55 · 01/30/2006, 06:16 PM

I'm thinking about getting a cleaner shrimp...I was thinking about a coral banded shrimp but don't know if any cleaner is "better" than another one. I was thinking about maybe a fire shrimp if not the coral banded. Which ones are more likely to clean fish off? Any other info is appreciated.

SerLunchbox · 01/30/2006, 06:18 PM

i personally buy most of my equipment from a site that has GREAT information on reef custodians. you can see this site at www.jlaquatics.com

Check it out! Great site!

Gobie · 01/30/2006, 06:21 PM

Skunk Cleaner Shrimp is the best at cleaning fish. Neon gobies do even better.

JENnKerry · 01/30/2006, 06:28 PM

Skunk cleaner and fire shrimp. Stay away from coral banded's. They are aggressive. Especially in a 29 gallon.

Jon Evans · 01/30/2006, 07:07 PM

Skunk cleaner shrimp all the way. I had an aggressive yellow tang that would allow the cleaner shrimp to clean him off. Pretty cool to watch. They will jump on your arm if you are working in the tank.

Ti · 01/30/2006, 07:29 PM

skunk

bertoni · 01/30/2006, 07:34 PM

If you mean a shrimp that cleans fish, I didn't think that coral-banded shrimp did that. IME, the skunk cleaners are more likely to clean fish than peppermint or fire shrimp.

ste6168 · 01/30/2006, 07:59 PM

I would go with a skunk cleaner like the above 100 people mentioned if you want it to clean your fish, but my peppermints have tried to clean my clowns before, but the clowns usually swim away

stewie24 · 01/30/2006, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JENnKerry
Skunk cleaner and fire shrimp. Stay away from coral banded's. They are aggressive. Especially in a 29 gallon.

Yes, coral banded shrimp are agressive.. Stay away from those. I agree with the general consensus - get a skunk cleaner shrimp. I have one and love it.
Stewie

Fast Fred · 01/30/2006, 10:00 PM

Skunks will clean almost anything! Feels weird when they pull at the hairs on your arm while your hands are in the tank. Cute at first, annoying, but cute later.

Pandora · 01/30/2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
If you mean a shrimp that cleans fish, I didn't think that coral-banded shrimp did that.

I've seen them offer cleaning services to larger fish at the LFS on rare occasions. But I agree with everyone, they're just very territorial and do far less cleaning; they are more heavily carnivorous.

Cutiewitbooty · 01/30/2006, 10:41 PM

skunks are more likly to clean the fish and are more outgoing, fire shrimp are alot prettier, but they are a little more shy.

old salty · 01/30/2006, 11:32 PM

I've got two skunk cleaners with lots of personality. I never see the peppermint of the fire red shrimp. If I had known they were so reclusive, I would never have gotten them.

mdisalvo55 · 01/30/2006, 11:59 PM

Guess that settles it, thanks everybody!

crzy4reefs · 01/31/2006, 10:04 AM

best of luck with your skunk it's cute to see them in pairs, not sure if two will work in a 29 but they are fun to watch and just all around great for cleaning and scavaging.

i find that drip acclimation works great for them (i use that method for acclimating anything for my tank)

joe90usa · 01/31/2006, 11:57 AM

What size tank is the minimum for 2 skunks in a FOWLR? I'd love to see the interaction if my 55 will sustain 2 of them.

Cutiewitbooty · 01/31/2006, 11:58 AM

i wouldn't see a problem, i have seen 2 in alot smaller tanks.

01/30/2006, 06:16 PM	#1
mdisalvo55 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 764	What kind of cleaner shrimp?? I'm thinking about getting a cleaner shrimp...I was thinking about a coral banded shrimp but don't know if any cleaner is "better" than another one. I was thinking about maybe a fire shrimp if not the coral banded. Which ones are more likely to clean fish off? Any other info is appreciated.

01/30/2006, 06:18 PM	#2
SerLunchbox Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Calgary, Alberta Canada Posts: 50	i personally buy most of my equipment from a site that has GREAT information on reef custodians. you can see this site at www.jlaquatics.com Check it out! Great site! __________________ I'm a Man, But i can change, If i have to, I guess.....

01/30/2006, 06:28 PM	#4
JENnKerry Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Jersey Posts: 7,384	Skunk cleaner and fire shrimp. Stay away from coral banded's. They are aggressive. Especially in a 29 gallon. __________________ We Don't Have a Signature..... Current Tank Info: 125 Gallon Reef

01/30/2006, 07:07 PM	#5
Jon Evans Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Massillon, OH Posts: 297	Skunk cleaner shrimp all the way. I had an aggressive yellow tang that would allow the cleaner shrimp to clean him off. Pretty cool to watch. They will jump on your arm if you are working in the tank. __________________ If you are in the stock market, look to diversify your portfolio with global equities. Warren Buffett said so. Current Tank Info: 75 gallon FOWLR tank with 20 gal sump/fuge

01/30/2006, 07:29 PM	#6
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	skunk __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

01/30/2006, 06:21 PM	#3
Gobie Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 668	Skunk Cleaner Shrimp is the best at cleaning fish. Neon gobies do even better.

01/30/2006, 07:34 PM	#7
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If you mean a shrimp that cleans fish, I didn't think that coral-banded shrimp did that. IME, the skunk cleaners are more likely to clean fish than peppermint or fire shrimp. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

01/30/2006, 07:59 PM	#8
ste6168 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,066	I would go with a skunk cleaner like the above 100 people mentioned if you want it to clean your fish, but my peppermints have tried to clean my clowns before, but the clowns usually swim away

01/30/2006, 10:00 PM	#10
Fast Fred Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Northfield, NJ 08225 Posts: 1,170	Skunks will clean almost anything! Feels weird when they pull at the hairs on your arm while your hands are in the tank. Cute at first, annoying, but cute later. __________________ Ya know, for a clown fish, you're not very funny! Member of the New Jersey Reefers Club Current Tank Info: 125g Reef Ready AGA /55g Top Fin Tank for a sump/refugium/ LifeReef Skimmer/ Changing over to SPS only

01/30/2006, 10:41 PM	#12
Cutiewitbooty Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alaska For 18 Years, Now Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 2,795	skunks are more likly to clean the fish and are more outgoing, fire shrimp are alot prettier, but they are a little more shy. __________________ WARNING: Taking my advice may result in personal injury and/or jail time. ~Amber~

01/30/2006, 11:32 PM	#13
old salty Genius Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: The Island of Misfit Toys Posts: 3,131	I've got two skunk cleaners with lots of personality. I never see the peppermint of the fire red shrimp. If I had known they were so reclusive, I would never have gotten them. __________________ "The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: Out of the marine aquarium hobby

01/30/2006, 11:59 PM	#14
mdisalvo55 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 764	Guess that settles it, thanks everybody!

01/31/2006, 10:04 AM	#15
crzy4reefs Moved On Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: RI Posts: 2,260	best of luck with your skunk it's cute to see them in pairs, not sure if two will work in a 29 but they are fun to watch and just all around great for cleaning and scavaging. i find that drip acclimation works great for them (i use that method for acclimating anything for my tank)

01/31/2006, 11:57 AM	#16
joe90usa Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ABQ Posts: 118	What size tank is the minimum for 2 skunks in a FOWLR? I'd love to see the interaction if my 55 will sustain 2 of them.

01/31/2006, 11:58 AM	#17
Cutiewitbooty Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Alaska For 18 Years, Now Cape Coral, Florida Posts: 2,795	i wouldn't see a problem, i have seen 2 in alot smaller tanks. __________________ WARNING: Taking my advice may result in personal injury and/or jail time. ~Amber~