Shrimp and fish query...

[WBrian]

Hi,
I am real new. I recently added some animals to my tank. I wanted to have a cleaner shrimp, and the LFS recommended a Coral Banded Shrimp. I see him grabbing onto my Flame Angel occasionally, and holding it in place. Can/will the shrimp try to harm the flame? The flame seems to go back to the shrimp, so I don't think he's being caused pain, and he doesn't appear innjured.

Ultimately, I'm looking for reassurance that the shrimp won't eat my flame or my 2 clowns.

Thanks for any help!
Brian

 

[KensReef]

Strange behaviour. I don't think the CBS would capture, kill and eat any of your fish. If the fish was already dead or dying on the other hand the CBS will eat it.

 

[WBrian]

Wild,
I saw that our LR carried to us a mushroom looking growth, as well as some kind of circular whitish thing that retracts when frightened, and a snail. But I just woke and decided to check out the tank iwth only the moonlight on. It looks like I had another CBS in there as well. Hard to tell, but it looks dead to me now, like the one I bought might have killed it. I'll be able to tell in the AM with real lights on.


Weird!
Brian

 

[Anonymous]

Wild,
I saw that our LR carried to us a mushroom looking growth, as well as some kind of circular whitish thing that retracts when frightened, and a snail. But I just woke and decided to check out the tank iwth only the moonlight on. It looks like I had another CBS in there as well. Hard to tell, but it looks dead to me now, like the one I bought might have killed it. I'll be able to tell in the AM with real lights on.


Weird!
Brian

Sounds more like your shrimp molted.
Stenopus spp. (Coral Banded Shrimp) are members of the cleaner shrimp family so its behavior of trying to pick off parasites from your Flame Angel would be considered normal.

Regards,
David Mohr

 

[WBrian]

Sounds more like your shrimp molted.
Stenopus spp. (Coral Banded Shrimp) are members of the cleaner shrimp family so its behavior of trying to pick off parasites from your Flame Angel would be considered normal.

Regards,
David Mohr

Indeed it was a molt. I didn't even know it would do that! Boy I have a lot to learn...

... so its behavior of trying to pick off parasites from your Flame Angel would be considered normal.

Regards,
David Mohr

Even it grabbing the angel with both front claws, and holding it in place? I've never seen a fish stand for that type of handling. But indeed, I am brand new at all this...

Thanks again,
Brian

 

[KensReef]

You will find that the shrimp moult fairly regularly. In nature they do it to coincide with the new moon.
Cleaning is normal but holding the fish in place like that seems a bit strange. Doesn't sound like it is doing any damage though, so it should be ok.

 

[Anonymous]

The fish would not go back to the Shrimp if it was being abused.

 

[HClH2OFish]

My CBS was cleaining my Cinnamon clown for awhile with no issues. Recently though, I saw him grabbling him the way you describe yours.

Does you CBS do any damage to the fish? I notices small fin tears on my clown..

CBS is a cleaner, but in our smaller tanks, they may try snacking on their tankmates if they don't have enuff food (or so I've been told when asking about this same subject)

What are you feeding the shrimp?

I recently started feeding him separately from my others. I get 1/2 piece of krill and stick it on the end of a bamboo shish-ka-bob skewer and put it in the tank near him. He can easily take it off and it ensure he gets the food directly. Haven't noticed him 'grabbing' for any of the fish since...


Just my .02 -- your mileage may vary

 

[Dr_Tang]

they may try snacking on their tankmates if they don't have enuff food (or so I've been told when asking about this same subject)

thats why i like my skunk cleaner....he doesent nibble on my fish...