cleaner shrimp question

muck · #1 01-09-2006, 09:01 PM

I had 2 large cleaners and added a smaller one a while later and they didn't want to play nice with him. They harassed him constantly. It might be different if you only have 1 and then add another one or two.

Delphinus · #2 01-09-2006, 09:03 PM

Interesting! I wonder what would happen if you added more than 1 then, if that would help, or if really they all must be added at the same time and then let to live out their lives. I guess the standard rules of adding a stranger into an established territory applies then. (Sorry for the earlier bad advice then!)

mr_alberta · #3 01-09-2006, 11:07 PM

From what I understand, if you have an established pair or group, they won't tank the addition of others very well. Don't know what the scenario is though when adding a group when you only have a single shrimp in the tank.

kari · #4 01-09-2006, 11:27 PM

Not that I know anything about this but,
had a pair of cleaners and one fire shrimp for many years. Recently one cleaner took the big dirt nap in the sand bed so I replaced it with a smaller one. Only seen the new shrimp for a few minutes.

JSTR · #5 01-11-2006, 02:23 AM

Just my observation, but I started with two yellow cleaners, lost one. Bout three months later replced it with a pair of visable smaller shrimp, one didnt make it the other bonded with the first shrimp - became new group. Recently I added two more smaller shrimpa nd other than they set up on the opposite side of the tank. I havent noticed any ill effects from the first two. Now I have a cleaning station set up at both ends of the reef and my fire shrimp hang out kindof in the middle. All 6 shrimp dont seem to bother each other and just do their own thing. Also have a roup of 8 sexy that took over a top corner, but again no problems so far (knocking on wood).

adidas · #6 01-11-2006, 03:06 AM

i'd like to get a large group of them one day