Can I survive without shrimp?

[ScottR]

I have 2 tanks currently. Breaking down a 40g and slowly adding to my 130g. I have a coral banded in the 130 and some saron shrimps. However, I have a pixy hawkfish that I want to put in the 130. But if I do, shrimps are out of the picture. Only saron shrimp can survive with a hawkfish IME. I do like shrimps for the convenience of killing aiptaisa (peppermints , which I have in the sump) and killing starfish (harlequins). What am I truly missing if I don’t get shrimp? Cleaners seem to get lazy and just wait for the fish to be fed. Peppermints turn to LPS eventually.

Talk me in or out of it, please!

 

[Katrina71]

I enjoy shrimp in my tank, but I feel like a cleaner shrimp and cleaner fish play a big role in fish health.

 

[najer]

I had a flame hawk and a long nose with cleaner shrimps without issue.

 

[Thespammailaccount]

Love harlequin shrimp. Have two pair

 

[Katrina71]

Love harlequin shrimp. Have two pair

And counting...

 

[ylreefer]

I believe Scott has talking himself into the answer already Hahahaha. give that hawk fish to one of our club members and enjoy your shrimp. . I just added 2 cleaner shrimp to the new nano. I missed them to much. Thnx hawk fish

 

[ScottR]

I believe Scott has talking himself into the answer already Hahahaha. give that hawk fish to one of our club members and enjoy your shrimp. . I just added 2 cleaner shrimp to the new nano. I missed them to much. Thnx hawk fish

Take mine. Give it to your for free.

 

[piranhaman00]

Peppermint shrimp are the worst creatures alive.

 

[mrpizzaface]

No

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I have a flame hawk in my 180 with 4 cleaners and about 20 sexy shrimp. No issues with the hawk bothering any of them. It just bounces from rock to rock and has even sat right next to sexy shrimp and never looked once at them.

 

[BlennyTime]

It wouldn't be the same in my tank without the cleaner shrimp, but sometimes when they are prying coral open to steal their food I think differently

 

[ZoWhat]

I don't have shrimp.... haven't for yeeeeears.

My approach for CUC are highly effective black spine urchins. Only black spines bc they dont eat my zoas/palys even if they hover over top of them.

I think of them as lil Roombas in my tank.

My thoughts on individual CUC:
* hermits, usually attack each other and within 6mos the 100 i bought is down to 5

* snails, only eat on the glass and don't contribute a lot to the LR

*shrimp, sensitive ... usually the first to die when smthg goes sideways. Also too many fish i want hunt them down.

* urchins, gotta watch the species but get the right ones, they are perfect Maids.


As far as fish cleaners... African Cleaner wrasses are awesome. They eat reg food and clean parasites. Gotta be from Africa though.

Aiptasia.... CBB..They eat the baby aiptasia. The medium to large Aiptasia you gotta knock out yourself as the CBB won't touch med/leg ones that sting the CBB. But they will stop the baby ones populating the tank.

.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I think it just depends on which one you want in your tank. I don't think you NEED shrimp, so it's really down to which you like better.