Cleaner Shrimp questions?

tharkema · #1 05-22-2008, 02:13 AM

OK thanks for the reply... Kinda figured as much but just wanted to double check

Myka · #2 05-22-2008, 02:39 AM

Cleaners won't eat bristleworms. Like El Guappo said, they are liking hiding during the day. I also find that bristleworms are adventurous when there are no tank inhabitants, but once you put a few other critters in there they hide all the time.

Be aware that Margarita snails are a temperate species, and putting them into our tropical tanks increases their metabolism which makes them great algae eaters, but it also greatly reduces their natural lifespan. Something to be aware of if you are humane conscious (for lack of better description).

Astrea snails are great additions, and are very hardy. Stomatellas are my favourite. If you ever decide you want to get a Peppermint shrimp he will likely eat all your Stomatellas (but no other snails).

You're right, there is no need to feed your Cleaner shrimp. You have enough live rock for him to pick at.

tharkema · #3 05-22-2008, 04:33 AM

I think I was looking at astrea snails previously and heard many good things about them... the only thing bad I heard was that they can not tip themselves back over if they end up upside-down. As for the shrimp I think we will only stay with the cleaner shrimp (maybe get one additional one as all they had was one left at LFS).

I think we will stay away from crabs for now as we would like to keep our snails. Looking at possibly adding a dragon goby to sift thru our sand bed. As for the rest we are looking to slowly add more to the tank and trying to take our time (very hard).

marie · #4 05-22-2008, 04:57 AM

I have seen my cleaners and my peppermint shrimp eat bristleworms. Thats not to say they will clean your tank of them but it will make all bristleworms a lot more wary of coming out into the open.

Oh and your shrimp will also eat any stomatella snails it finds out in the open

Myka · #5 05-23-2008, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tharkema

I think I was looking at astrea snails previously and heard many good things about them... the only thing bad I heard was that they can not tip themselves back over if they end up upside-down. As for the shrimp I think we will only stay with the cleaner shrimp (maybe get one additional one as all they had was one left at LFS).

I think we will stay away from crabs for now as we would like to keep our snails. Looking at possibly adding a dragon goby to sift thru our sand bed. As for the rest we are looking to slowly add more to the tank and trying to take our time (very hard).

I've had Cerith and Margaritas die from being unable to right themselves, but I've never had an Astrea did from that. But ya, "they" do say Astreas are prone to it, just not ime.

Crabs are banned from my tank!!! Good call on your part.

I have a Hector's Goby that does a fantastic job of sifting the sand, but my Orange Lip Conch does 10x the work the Goby does!! Fighting Conches are just as good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by marie

Oh and your shrimp will also eat any stomatella snails it finds out in the open

I thought it was only Peppermints that did that...?

sharuq1 · #6 05-23-2008, 03:01 AM

Another thing about the dragon gobies is they sift sand all over pretty much everything. not a big deal if you don't have coral but can be a pita if you do.

Myka · #7 05-23-2008, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharuq1

Another thing about the dragon gobies is they sift sand all over pretty much everything. not a big deal if you don't have coral but can be a pita if you do.

Yes, my Hector's goby does this. Most of my corals can deal with sloughing the sand themselves though, I just keep them propped at an angle to help.