Cleaner shrimp worth it?

[jcbasile]

So I have a 45 gallon tank with a clownfish, royal gramma, shrimp/goby pair and lots of lps/softie corals. I have always wanted to get a cleaner shrimp as I think they look really cool. Question is, do they really serve any purpose besides aesthetic? I know they eat debris and uneaten food, but I mostly spot feed and already have a pretty good cuc currently. I don't have large fish for it to eat things off of and I would like to avoid adding in another mouth to be fed so would it serve any purpose in my tank besides looking cool?

 

[WIReefer]

I have two cleaners and they are pigs! Mine basically are another mouth to feed and for looks. They do a decent job on scavenging.

 

[jcbasile]

I have two cleaners and they are pigs! Mine basically are another mouth to feed and for looks. They do a decent job on scavenging.

That's what I was wondering. I am sure I will get one but since it is a smaller tank I want to be conscious about not adding too many things that need to be fed ( I am trying to go lower maintenance)

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I think they are mostly decorative, but there is one study that implies that at night, they clean fish parasites pretty well, including eating the eggs of the fluke, Neobenedenia. They won't "cure" an acute infection, but they might help keep disease at bay if the issue hasn't become too severe.

Jay

 

[Nigel35]

They do IMO very little cleaning work. Mine is just another mouth to feed and steals the corals food! But very cool to watch around the tank around the corals.

 

[jcbasile]

I think they are mostly decorative, but there is one study that implies that at night, they clean fish parasites pretty well, including eating the eggs of the fluke, Neobenedenia. They won't "cure" an acute infection, but they might help keep disease at bay if the issue hasn't become too severe.

Jay

Even if the fish are similar sized to the shrimp? The fish don't have to be significantly bigger?

 

[WIReefer]

That's what I was wondering. I am sure I will get one but since it is a smaller tank I want to be conscious about not adding too many things that need to be fed ( I am trying to go lower maintenance)

They grow extremely fast I must say, mine are huge now.

 

[Nigel35]

Mine molts close to twice a month. Thought it died the first time it molted lol.

 

[GaryE]

I feel that if you purchase a critters for a specific task, you'll ultimately be disappointed. They are fun to watch and may serve a purpose...

 

[Waynerock]

I love cleaner shrimp my biggest problem is that I can’t have nice LPS and feed it with that guy around or else I’m having to play watch dog for an hour afterwards. I had a nice Scoly and a pretty orange plate fungia get tormented to death I believe from the shrimp ripping food out of its mouth. Then getting the shrimp out is either real Easy or a nightmare. I absolutely loved the shrimp it was so entertaining and was great at cleaning the fish

 

[Arabyps]

In have 2 in my system. They are a joy to watch and that is enough for me.

 

[Tiki Reef Joshua]

Umm..... yea. They are awesome. First thing visitors gravitate to. It’s fun to watch them clean fish.

 

[Nigel35]

Anybody know how to get them to clean the fish? Never seen mine do that. Wish it could though...

 

[Pistondog]

My cleaner shrimp always tries to clean the fish. Whether they like it or not. Serves some purpose.

 

[KingTideCorals]

For me, I see them go after extra fish food, and I do at times seeing them clean new colonies/fish.

IMO they really are fabulous for their personality. That being said more of a decorative invert, but I would still put it in the CUC category due to it going after extra food and such.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Even if the fish are similar sized to the shrimp? The fish don't have to be significantly bigger?

Definitely, larger fish are more actively "cleaned" by Lysmata shrimp...small fish do not posture for the shrimp like big fish do.

Jay

 

[Fishko]

I have 2, they release little shrimplets about every month. A little hard to feed corals with them in the tank. However, they do clean the wild caught fish in my 29g pretty often.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I like them because they are ornamental adding nice color and movement to the tank and great scavengers.

 

[blasterman]

Harmless scavengers. I prefer fire shrimp due to their greater activity, but cleaners are pretty and get bigger than peppermint.

Unlike crabs they aren't a threat to corals either.

 

[Twoddler]

Love them, my 2 do absolutely nothing but jump out on unreceptive fish and mug them lol, great addition to my tank, very comical.