Cleaner Shrimp Molting or Dead?

falconut · 08/02/2006, 10:19 AM

I bought a Skunk Cleaner Shrimp about 2 weeks ago. He was very tiny, about 3/4". I drip acclimated him for about 1 hour.

The first day I didn't see him, so I thought something must have eatten him. Then the next day, he comes out and hangs out just under a rock in the front. He stayed there until about 3 days ago. Now I don't see him at all.

I know they molt and usually hide during this process, but it's been 3 days and no sign of him. I have a Coral Banded Shrimp (about 2") that has been in my tank for about 3 - 4 months. He hides completely during the day even alot during the night. It's only on occation that I can even see a piece of his antena from behind the rocks. So it's definitely possible that the cleaner is hiding. It never came out and ate the food when I was feeding.

The only fish I wasn't sure about eatting him would be a Pinkspotted Goby (about 5"). I have been watching him though and they were hanging out next to each other when he was out and he would even climb on the goby. So, I really don't think he did it, especially since I haven't seen any antena hanging out of his mouth and they were pretty long.

So, how long do you cleaners stay hidden after molting? Is it possible that's what he's doing?

thor32766 · 08/02/2006, 10:34 AM

if you can tonight grab a flash light and look for him. they will come out of night more. let us know what you find out.

falconut · 08/02/2006, 10:50 AM

I did that the other night and saw nothing. Not even the CBS and I know he's in there, because I can usually see an antena behind a rock when looking threw a cave. I will keep trying though.

pufferpoison · 08/02/2006, 11:28 AM

if anything, I would blame your Coral Banded Shrimp. They are not safe with other shrimp.

seattlerob · 08/02/2006, 11:35 AM

Ditto the comments about watching after the lights go out. Also, my cleaner shrimp really react to food, so maybe after the lights go out, put a little food in & if he's still in there, he should come out. I've thought one of mine was missing before, only to find out he was really good at hiding

One other thing I'll throw out there....I lost a cleaner shrimp to a wrasse shortly after adding him to the tank. Thought the shrimp was too big for the wrasse to eat, but I was wrong. Wrasse swallowed up the tail half of the shrimp & swam around for a while with the head sticking out the mouth. Later dropped the head off & came back a bit later to finish up the meal.

falconut · 08/03/2006, 05:24 AM

I still didn't see the cleaner anywhere. Now there's still plenty of places he could be hiding, but I'm starting to think it is gone.

How would I go about catching a Coral Banded that is never visible?

08/02/2006, 10:19 AM	#1
falconut Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blackwood, NJ Posts: 3,813	Cleaner Shrimp Molting or Dead? I bought a Skunk Cleaner Shrimp about 2 weeks ago. He was very tiny, about 3/4". I drip acclimated him for about 1 hour. The first day I didn't see him, so I thought something must have eatten him. Then the next day, he comes out and hangs out just under a rock in the front. He stayed there until about 3 days ago. Now I don't see him at all. I know they molt and usually hide during this process, but it's been 3 days and no sign of him. I have a Coral Banded Shrimp (about 2") that has been in my tank for about 3 - 4 months. He hides completely during the day even alot during the night. It's only on occation that I can even see a piece of his antena from behind the rocks. So it's definitely possible that the cleaner is hiding. It never came out and ate the food when I was feeding. The only fish I wasn't sure about eatting him would be a Pinkspotted Goby (about 5"). I have been watching him though and they were hanging out next to each other when he was out and he would even climb on the goby. So, I really don't think he did it, especially since I haven't seen any antena hanging out of his mouth and they were pretty long. So, how long do you cleaners stay hidden after molting? Is it possible that's what he's doing?

08/02/2006, 10:34 AM	#2
thor32766 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chuluota, FL Posts: 6,072	if you can tonight grab a flash light and look for him. they will come out of night more. let us know what you find out. __________________ "Live your life so no one has to lie about who you were at your funeral" click on my red house to see my tang compound! Current Tank Info: 29 gallon in Wall!

08/02/2006, 10:50 AM	#3
falconut Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blackwood, NJ Posts: 3,813	I did that the other night and saw nothing. Not even the CBS and I know he's in there, because I can usually see an antena behind a rock when looking threw a cave. I will keep trying though. __________________ 180 Gallon FOWLR, 40 Gallon Sump and 10 Gallon Refuge. (2) OceanRevive S026 LEDs, ASM G2 Skimmer & SCA-302 Skimmer. Setup since July 2017.

08/02/2006, 11:28 AM	#4
pufferpoison Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Kansas Posts: 684	if anything, I would blame your Coral Banded Shrimp. They are not safe with other shrimp. __________________ Cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark's in the water. Our shark Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for t Current Tank Info: 65G Reef / 20 Softies / 90 Predator

08/03/2006, 05:24 AM	#6
falconut Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blackwood, NJ Posts: 3,813	I still didn't see the cleaner anywhere. Now there's still plenty of places he could be hiding, but I'm starting to think it is gone. How would I go about catching a Coral Banded that is never visible? __________________ 180 Gallon FOWLR, 40 Gallon Sump and 10 Gallon Refuge. (2) OceanRevive S026 LEDs, ASM G2 Skimmer & SCA-302 Skimmer. Setup since July 2017.

08/02/2006, 11:35 AM	#5
seattlerob Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 464	Ditto the comments about watching after the lights go out. Also, my cleaner shrimp really react to food, so maybe after the lights go out, put a little food in & if he's still in there, he should come out. I've thought one of mine was missing before, only to find out he was really good at hiding One other thing I'll throw out there....I lost a cleaner shrimp to a wrasse shortly after adding him to the tank. Thought the shrimp was too big for the wrasse to eat, but I was wrong. Wrasse swallowed up the tail half of the shrimp & swam around for a while with the head sticking out the mouth. Later dropped the head off & came back a bit later to finish up the meal.