cleaner shrimp / blood shrimp compatability

tonypittman · 02/17/2006, 12:27 PM

I have a pair of cleaner shrimp. I had tried to add a 3rd, but when I did, the smallest of the 3 withdrew itself from the crowd and soon died.

I have since been advised to stick with 2 cleaners.

Since I like shrimp a lot, my question is: Could I, for example, add a pair of blood shrimp to my pair of cleaner shrimp without causing another fatal "dynamic"?

Asuran · 02/17/2006, 12:51 PM

it should be ok i have a pair of each in my 110G and they co-exist without any problems... just my two blood shrimp who bicker between themselves

tonypittman · 02/17/2006, 12:54 PM

interesting. does that mean blood shrimp prefer to be solitary..or are they ok in pairs like the cleaners?

sandiegan · 02/17/2006, 01:09 PM

I'm 90% sure you can have more than just a pair of cleaners in a tank. How big is your tank? Also, try to match the size of the shrimp you already ahve. Cleaners are opportunistic...if there is a much smaller shrimp in the area..they may try to eat it.

Asuran · 02/17/2006, 01:34 PM

naw i dont think so i added them in at seperate times and the already established one just started chasing the other one around and it still does been over a month already

sandiegan · 02/17/2006, 01:35 PM

odd...I don't see a reason for the shrimp to actually "pair off" since they are simultaneous hermaphrodites....

tonypittman · 02/17/2006, 02:21 PM

my tank is 95 gallons

Ti · 02/17/2006, 04:33 PM

they get along fine, mine do

02/17/2006, 12:27 PM	#1
tonypittman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 127	cleaner shrimp / blood shrimp compatability I have a pair of cleaner shrimp. I had tried to add a 3rd, but when I did, the smallest of the 3 withdrew itself from the crowd and soon died. I have since been advised to stick with 2 cleaners. Since I like shrimp a lot, my question is: Could I, for example, add a pair of blood shrimp to my pair of cleaner shrimp without causing another fatal "dynamic"?

02/17/2006, 12:51 PM	#2
Asuran Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Scarborough Posts: 504	it should be ok i have a pair of each in my 110G and they co-exist without any problems... just my two blood shrimp who bicker between themselves __________________ 180gallon reef, 70gallon sump 110gallon reef, 50 gallon sump (former tank) 70gallon FOWLR, 30 gallon sump

02/17/2006, 01:34 PM	#5
Asuran Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Scarborough Posts: 504	naw i dont think so i added them in at seperate times and the already established one just started chasing the other one around and it still does been over a month already __________________ 180gallon reef, 70gallon sump 110gallon reef, 50 gallon sump (former tank) 70gallon FOWLR, 30 gallon sump

02/17/2006, 04:33 PM	#8
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	they get along fine, mine do __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

02/17/2006, 12:54 PM	#3
tonypittman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 127	interesting. does that mean blood shrimp prefer to be solitary..or are they ok in pairs like the cleaners?

02/17/2006, 01:09 PM	#4
sandiegan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: sunnyvale Posts: 697	I'm 90% sure you can have more than just a pair of cleaners in a tank. How big is your tank? Also, try to match the size of the shrimp you already ahve. Cleaners are opportunistic...if there is a much smaller shrimp in the area..they may try to eat it.

02/17/2006, 01:35 PM	#6
sandiegan Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: sunnyvale Posts: 697	odd...I don't see a reason for the shrimp to actually "pair off" since they are simultaneous hermaphrodites....

02/17/2006, 02:21 PM	#7
tonypittman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 127	my tank is 95 gallons