PDA

View Full Version : Cleaner Shrimp

Grand Wazoo
02/09/2010, 04:14 PM
I have a Nano tank with live rock, snails, hermits (blue), a cleaner shrimp and a nice coral. Everytime I try to add a Clown for the coral to host, I find the clown dead within a day--My water parameters are fine and everything in the tank is doing well. Is it possible that the Cleaner Shrimp is ambushing the clown and killing it?

TIA
thegrun
02/09/2010, 04:31 PM
I doubt it. What is "fine" in regards to water parameters? What size tank?
TNTFISHY
02/09/2010, 04:31 PM
Ditto.
Grand Wazoo
02/09/2010, 04:48 PM
Ammonia 0.1
Nitrogen 0.1
Nitrate 0.2
Salinity 1.025
pH 8.3
Temp 78
phosphate 0.03

Oceanicic Bio Cube 8

Those are the only tests I run--

TIA
Grand Wazoo
02/09/2010, 04:58 PM
Thats an 8
kingfisher62
02/09/2010, 05:00 PM
Yeah, I do not think so , Cleaners are not built fo aggression!
rgonzalez
02/09/2010, 05:03 PM
What kind of clown?
Grand Wazoo
02/09/2010, 05:09 PM
What kind of clown?

Ive blown money on three--moroon, pecula, ocelasus <sp>
Grand Wazoo
02/09/2010, 05:12 PM
Pardon my spelling. They were ALL small fish.
Ohiomom
02/09/2010, 06:14 PM
Did you acclimate them properly..ie drip acclimation?
bertoni
02/09/2010, 06:28 PM
It seems unlikely that the cleaner is killing fish. Is the cleaner getting fed anything?
Grand Wazoo
02/10/2010, 07:09 AM
Did you acclimate them properly..ie drip acclimation?

Well not DRIP, but slowly alligning the water temperature and adding some water to the plastic bag (floating in tank) every 5-10 minutes over the course of half an hour or so.

Thanks
Grand Wazoo
02/10/2010, 07:12 AM
It seems unlikely that the cleaner is killing fish. Is the cleaner getting fed anything?

He eats flake food I add every day for it. He seems to perch itself on a rock looking to attack when I add a clown. Basically stays in same place with claws always open.
sedor
02/10/2010, 07:25 AM
Where are you getting your parameter reading from? 0.1 isn't a lot, but you should never see ANY ammonia or nitrite on a hobby test kit. Thing is, cleaners are a lot more delicate than clowns so I have a hard time believing something is wrong with your water and the shrimp is outliving a clown in it.

Your last post says he stays in the same place with claws open. Cleaners don't have claws and I believe you have a coral banded shrimp rather than a cleaner and they will indeed kill fish.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee296/VTgobie/JaquestheCoralBandedShrimp.jpg
This is a coral banded shrimp.

http://www.scuba-equipment-usa.com/marine/APR04/images/Lysmata_amboinensis.jpg
This is a cleaner.
bertoni
02/10/2010, 05:35 PM
Well, if it's a cleaner, and it's getting at least some food, I doubt very much it's killing fish. Can you post a picture of your animal?
Grand Wazoo
02/11/2010, 05:42 AM
Thanks everyone--Ill post a picture soon.
Grand Wazoo
02/11/2010, 05:45 AM
It MUST be a coral banded then because thats not it and it DOES have claws. Would that make a difference? If so, Ill remove it from the tank and give him back to a shop.
Ohiomom
02/11/2010, 08:44 AM
My coral banded (which was given to me as a gift) was the meanest little thing I have had in a long time..it even fought with a damsel..I actually put it in a tank by itself..hth.
Grand Wazoo
02/11/2010, 08:57 AM
My coral banded (which was given to me as a gift) was the meanest little thing I have had in a long time..it even fought with a damsel..I actually put it in a tank by itself..hth.

Ah--then Ill bet he IS the culprit. He sits perched looking ready to attack. He's coming OUT.:blown: