Baby Shrimp?

[SaltWaterN00b]

I really cant get a picture but does anyone have a pic of baby cleaners? I found a TON of very small shrimp swimming around a cluster of plants I have.

Its hard to see them perfectly by eye but they are doubtly some type of shrimp. I have 2 cleaners a 1 coral banded, my guess is that they are cleaners. If they are babies what foor do I need to feed them?

Right now I only have pellets, mysis and formula 1.

 

[ming]

Its most likely not cleaners. The baby shrimps wont even look like shrimps because they will just be suspended in the water column and filter feeding on phytoplankton. And most likely, will be eaten up by fish/corals or chopped up by powerheads until they go through a metamorphasis turning into an adult looking shrimp after weeks.. if they last that long

 

[ezee]

SaltWaterN00b,

I really cant get a picture but does anyone have a pic of baby cleaners? I found a TON of very small shrimp swimming around a cluster of plants I have.

Its hard to see them perfectly by eye but they are doubtly some type of shrimp. I have 2 cleaners a 1 coral banded, my guess is that they are cleaners. If they are babies what foor do I need to feed them?

Right now I only have pellets, mysis and formula 1.

I actually knew a reefer that was able to breed cleaners successfully, so it is possible. That being said I would make sure they are not mysis. If they are baby cleaners, I would make sure that you give them good hiding places that only they can get into. LR rubble pile, etc.

E

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

How long have you seen them?

During the first two phase(for about 2-3weeks), they do not look like shrimps and cannot swim exactly the way they want to. That is, their cannot chase after their food. Furthermore, if they have no trace of orange/red, they mostly are isopods. Still good news, that means your system is supporting a more complete food chain.

I have no experience as to what coral banded babies look like though.

 

[ming]

Both shrimps are part of the cleaner shrimp family
Heres a good read
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/clrshrpreprofaqs.htm

 

[lfsmarineguy]

in a normal reef tank it is almost impossible to breed cleaners. They require a special setup for any kind of successful breeding. They are most likely copepods massing for feeding.

 

[SaltWaterN00b]

They are definetely clear in color, look like shrimp and they all seem to be hiding in a mass of plants I have in the tank (i forget the name of the plant/algae).

Ill try to snap a pic but they dont stop moving, my wife actually noticed them last night.

I was just looking at pics of Isopods and im positive it isnt that. They swim like shrimp for sure

 

[Deanos]

in a normal reef tank it is almost impossible to breed cleaners.

:iamwithst

Likely amphipods.

 

[SaltWaterN00b]

:iamwithst

Likely amphipods.

I have those in my tank also, but they do not look like that either, I'll see if I can scoop one out and take a pic.

 

[vanceny]

My cleaner is carrying eggs now. I doubt any of them will make it after they hatch.

 

[Psycho graphic]

Mysids maybe?

 

[SaltWaterN00b]

Mysids maybe?

That is a very close match from what I can remember (im at work) will check again when I get home but im almost positive thats what they are. Now my question is Are they good or bad?

 

[ming]

They're good. Excellent fish food for picky eaters, except they dont reproduce fast enough for fish to eat

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

That is a very close match from what I can remember (im at work) will check again when I get home but im almost positive thats what they are. Now my question is Are they good or bad?

DIBS if they are mysids. I want some live mysids. Lets pray that they are Mysids. :bablefish

 

[reefman]

i've seen baby cleaner being release by mother shrimp by fanning their underside. very hard to see unless they gather a part of the tank(usually is when just released).when the eyes reflect off some lighting, it can be easily spotted too. too small n dark to capture by camera. by the time the lights r on, they r all long eaten. happens like 3 to 4 times a year. they dont seem to swim, only twitch their tail. the flow moves them around.

 

[beefbroccoli]

i think my tank got some baby shrimps too, just found out last night, there are hundreds of them, i only have 2 cleaners and they are carrying eggs right now, they are very small but if you look closly, you can see the shrimp shape. my tomato clowns love them.