Shy Shrimp
 

So I recently picked up some Fire Shrimp... and have noticed them to be VERY reclusive. Is this the case with them all the time, or do they come out of their shells (excuse the choice of expression) after acclimating to the tank? I have read that they tend to be pretty shy, but they have both picked a spot in the deepest, darkest, make me climb around a bunch of stuff to get to that side of the tank to see if they're still alive (gasp!) spot that there is. They are so nice... I just hope that they'll come out eventually!

I only have 1 fire shrinp in my tank right now. He comes out about 1 time a month. The rest of the time he is totaly hidden. from what i have read the come out more when in groups.

Yeah, I read that too, which is why I bought two... of course is two enough of a group for them to be brave? I guess only time will tell.

Never tried fire shrimp, but I've noticed that with their close cousins, the peppermints and scarlet cleaners, two will be bolder than one by itself, but nowhere near as boisterous as four or more. But I hear fire shrimp are REALLY shy, so who knows.

I had two fire shrimp a while ago and after about 2-3 months they came out more and more to the point where I could see them almost all the time

Well that's good to hear! Hopefully mine end up brave like yours!

Had one for several years and you need to look hard to find it. The cleaners however are always in the way whenever I try to do anything in the tank. I seems I need to be cleaned.

That's pretty much how they usually are. I got a couple of really large ones that are all over (especially feeding time), but the smaller ones I got stick to themselves a lot. Luckily the home they picked is under a torch branch so it's pretty easy to spot them even though they feel hidden.

Try target feeding your fire shrimp by squirting some mysis (or whatever you use) in the open very near them. After a while, all my shrimps (cleaners, fire, & peppermint) come out when its feeding time.

JME

Anthony

Fire shrimp along with cleaners and other members of the shrimp family are more active during the night as they are semi noctournal. So if your shrimp stay hidden within the rockwork throughout the day and then come out at night, no alarm as this is perfectly normal. As mentioned above, feeding will eventually bring them out and about for a short period of each the day.
I did a night dive in Mexico once and was amazed by the army of shrimps I saw patrolling the sea floor :eek: