Self fertilizing cleaner shrimp or hybrid?

XeniaMania · 03/28/2006, 02:28 AM

There's only 2 shrimps in my tank, skunk cleaner and fire. When I had 2 cleaners in there, I would see them both carrying eggs quite often, but ever since 1 disappeared after a molt, the survivor has not had any eggs for a while. This past week, I purchased a pack of frozen cyclops and been feeding daily. Today, while cleaning a fish, I noticed the cleaner carrying green eggs. They're fertile when they're green aren't they? If that's the case, how did it manage to get fertile eggs? I don't recall reading about them just carrying eggs, and the absence of eggs for a while reaffirms that. Any thoughts?

iCam · 03/28/2006, 02:43 AM

Peppermint shrimp are hermaphroditic, so having two would be all that is needed.

I'm not sure if cleaner shrimp are the same way. Either way, there's really no chance any hatched shrimp would make it past the larval stage, between hungry inhabitants,pumps, and lack of sufficient planktonic food.

Either way, it still makes some free live food.

XeniaMania · 03/28/2006, 02:52 AM

I'm aware of that fact, what's puzzling me is that there's only 1 cleaner.

iCam · 03/28/2006, 03:07 AM

How long ago did the other cleaner disappear?

XeniaMania · 03/28/2006, 07:02 AM

a month or 2 ago. It's been a while, not recent.

Anemone · 03/28/2006, 10:36 AM

There has been some talk of cleaners being able to store sperm for up to several months. They only attach eggs immediately after a molt, so it may be possible that your single cleaner has not molted since the other shrimp disappeared, and only now used "stored" sperm.

The answer will be evident if this keeps happening (ie, then the source of the sperm would have to be something else).

Kevin

XeniaMania · 03/28/2006, 12:02 PM

Yeah, it did recently molt. So I believe that's what it is, thank you.

03/28/2006, 02:28 AM	#1
XeniaMania Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 1,627	Self fertilizing cleaner shrimp or hybrid? There's only 2 shrimps in my tank, skunk cleaner and fire. When I had 2 cleaners in there, I would see them both carrying eggs quite often, but ever since 1 disappeared after a molt, the survivor has not had any eggs for a while. This past week, I purchased a pack of frozen cyclops and been feeding daily. Today, while cleaning a fish, I noticed the cleaner carrying green eggs. They're fertile when they're green aren't they? If that's the case, how did it manage to get fertile eggs? I don't recall reading about them just carrying eggs, and the absence of eggs for a while reaffirms that. Any thoughts?

03/28/2006, 10:36 AM	#6
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	There has been some talk of cleaners being able to store sperm for up to several months. They only attach eggs immediately after a molt, so it may be possible that your single cleaner has not molted since the other shrimp disappeared, and only now used "stored" sperm. The answer will be evident if this keeps happening (ie, then the source of the sperm would have to be something else). Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

03/28/2006, 02:43 AM	#2
iCam Window Seat Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 4,135	Peppermint shrimp are hermaphroditic, so having two would be all that is needed. I'm not sure if cleaner shrimp are the same way. Either way, there's really no chance any hatched shrimp would make it past the larval stage, between hungry inhabitants,pumps, and lack of sufficient planktonic food. Either way, it still makes some free live food.

03/28/2006, 02:52 AM	#3
XeniaMania Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 1,627	I'm aware of that fact, what's puzzling me is that there's only 1 cleaner.

03/28/2006, 03:07 AM	#4
iCam Window Seat Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: D/FW, Texas Posts: 4,135	How long ago did the other cleaner disappear?

03/28/2006, 07:02 AM	#5
XeniaMania Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 1,627	a month or 2 ago. It's been a while, not recent.

03/28/2006, 12:02 PM	#7
XeniaMania Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 1,627	Yeah, it did recently molt. So I believe that's what it is, thank you.