Do cleaner shrimp really clean ?

[Jonathan blackwood]

I was wondering if all cleaner shrimp "clean" or fight off and pick at parasites ?? Is it a natural instinct and when a sick or infected fish presents itself, will they do there job ? Or is it a hit and miss ?

 

[lennyd19]

Mine does. But in the past I have never seen any do it.

 

[jx.reef]

Mine sure doesn't. Just hangs around his cave waiting to steal food from my corals

 

[nemo1017]

Mine cleans up food like a pig. That's about all it does.

 

[fragit]

Mine hangs out at a cave entrance and cleans my Tang, and Anthias. Also grabs food as it floats by.

 

[Dan I]

My cleaner shrimp always pounces on food, the fish, and on the corals. They are scavengers and will grab onto any food. My shrimp loves to jump on my fish and pin them down to do his cleaning.

 

[happyhourhero]

Mine does. He helps my Kole out a lot. Not much else uses his services too often.

 

[GatorScott]

Mine does. Saw him picking at one of my Fiji chromis the other day

 

[lambchops]

Here's a link to a video I found on my old computer. Filmed before I knew about turning my phone on the side.

 

[AdamNC]

My Blood Red cleans my Lawnmower Blenny but I've never seen him clean my Clowns.

 

[Waters]

Yes, they do pick off parasites and dead skin cells but not enough to make a difference in any fight against parasites such as Ich.

 

[Michael Montgomery]

Then whats the point?? Lazy turds. LOL

 

[Waters]

Then whats the point?? Lazy turds. LOL

lol.......mainly just for the enjoyment of watching the cleanings

 

[Holy_makerel]

My neon goby has started to display cleaning behaviors with his tank mates. My firefish lets him get away with it most frequently but he tries to clean everyone.

I tried several shrimp species including cleaners and they all would go around and steal food from the corals. Back to the LFS. might try a few sexy shrimp in the new system I'm starting but probably not any cleaners or peps

 

[Webslinger]

You need to feed the shrimp first, then your corals.

 

[JamesP]

Mine would tear the guts out of my corals to eat the food in their stomachs, even if thet were fed first. They had to go. My LFS said they dont keep them in their display tanks for the same reason. If you have LPS, keep an eye on things. For me, im never putting in another shrimp again.

 

[Bigtickets]

My cleaner shrimp has been in the tank for 6 days and he started cleaning all my fish last night. Car wash is open for business.

 

[canister guy]

I have 2 and they clean my damsels all the time.. prepare for when they moult. Had no idea it would look exactly like the shrimp itself.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Man I love these shrimp but decided not to keep any because of how they steal food from my LPS!

 

[Waters]

Man I love these shrimp but decided not to keep any because of how they steal food from my LPS!

Yeah, you aren't kidding. I used to have to have my wife chase them away while I tried to feed the coral. Even then, I would need to stand guard for 15-30 minutes afterwards, otherwise they would go back and steal the food. I ended up getting a Coral Banded Shrimp which are much less aggressive when it comes to thievery