[Delphinus]

I never had shrimp come out into the open until I had four of them together. The group dynamics of four is so amazingly different than just one or two it does not cease to amaze me (whatsoever). These guys have far more complex behaviours than I think we give them credit for.

I should mention that although I've had four shrimp before, it wasn't four of the same. I.e., two peppermint, two cleaners. And in those cases both pairs stayed nice and hidden throughout the day. So it's something about the fact there are four (4 cleaner shrimp that is) in their social group that makes the difference.

I first had one shrimp in the 75g. I never saw him, day or night, he was so amazingly hidden. I then put in three (it was a mistake actually, I don't remember the details but I think I only meant to order two. I wanted two, and I thought I had lost the one I had, so I meant to order two, but I was somehow stuck on the thought "but there might be another one so that makes three" and I told J&L "send me 3." Whooops, well, whatever, three came, and I just put them in together.) Even after the three were established, I didn't see the original for a while, and then gradually I saw more and more. But it was easily a full month before I saw a group dynamic of "four" as opposed to a group dynamic of "three plus a loner." Even now, I still see times where I see three together, and a fourth off to the side.

The other thing that I find possibly anomalous is their complete lack of fear when they molt. They molt right out in the open (I've now witnessed it several times), and then they go into a brief mating frenzy, and then the "molt-ee" then goes up to one of the upper corners to rest up for about a day. This I find extraordinary. Most of the times they're shy when they're about to molt (presumably because they're vulnerable), and their espescially shy right after a molt because they're soft shelled for a little while, it's in their best interests to hide. Not stand right out in the open like that.

And the one last tidbit I want to share: when I had a pair, both of them were always covered in eggs. Now that there are four, there is only ever one at a time who carries eggs. Sometimes two, but only very seldom. But never more than that. I don't know if I'm reading too much into what could just be a coincidence, but still I find it somewhat noteworthy. Given the orgies they get into right after a molt, I would have thought they'd all carry eggs. But it seems they stagger their molting. I have no idea what this means, but one thing I intend to follow up on now is I am going to start tracking iodine levels just to make sure everything is on the up-and-up on that one.

If I stare at them long enough I can usually start to differentiate the individuals on a day-to-day basis (until one of them molts, and then I have to start over).