How come my cleaner shrimp don't clean?

[Richieboy]

Hey guys, my tank is about a year old. I have had my cleaner shrimp for a long time now and they don't clean my fish anymore. They used to clean the fish in the begining. I introduced a new fish just recently, and the fish went straight for the cleaners for a cleaning, but the shrimps never touched the fish, and the fish keeps going back to the shrimp, but they shrimps just look at him and not do anything. Do I need a new pair of cleaner shrimp.

[jpitts101]

if the shrimp are eating food that your feeding the tank then they may not clean. I have 3 useless cleaner shrimp. they do release eggs every 2 weeks though, so its good fish food.

[kuoka]

It just shows to go ya.. you can lead a shrimp to clean but you can't make him eat! :D LOL

Seriously though, if they don't have an appetite they're probably fat ans sassy (they're typically scavengers). I'd cut back on feeding and they'll probably go back to cleaning. Good luck.

[ManotheSea]

The other possibility is that your tank and fish no longer have parasites. The shrimp did their jobs and now deserve life time free rent.

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10581022#post10581022 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ManotheSea
The other possibility is that your tank and fish no longer have parasites. The shrimp did their jobs and now deserve life time free rent.

I agree with that 100 %---I think my adult kids have that philosophy too LOL

Don't underestimate the value of cleaner shrimps--as just that--they eat alot of uneaten fish food etc and really help with the filtering of the tank

[roricaja]

Maybe your shrimp is related to my wife

[rbtwo4]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10581337#post10581337 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by roricaja
Maybe your shrimp is related to my wife
:lol: maybe ur wife my wife and the shrimp are related!!!! My wife use to clean 5 years later NOTHING! Wonderif I can take her back to the LFS & trade her in!?!?