Scared Cleaner Shrimp?

[Steve Elb]

So I picked up my first Cleaner Shrimp on Sunday, and the little bugger just hides under the rocks and in the back. I've seen him one time since the day I added him, and that was only because his antenna were poking out from behind the rocks. Has anyone experienced a cleaner shrimp that is so skiddish? Most of the ones ive seen in tanks are always out at their little cleaner station.

I have 4 and they tend to hang in the back behind the rocks when the lights are bright. When the par lowers they come out....probably acclimating

 

[MichaelReefer]

A moult has everything, legs, body and antenna. They’re pretty soft after that so they usually hide for a day or two.

Seemed a little to "floppy" to be a moult but I will check.

 

[Bret Brinkmann]

I have seen several shrimp look dead while they are about to moult. Maybe it's the moult you see but maybe it's the shrimp about to moult. In which case it's not dead. They can go completely unresponsive during this time and can be out in the open too. I have seen them be in this state for as long as 3 days before. But it wasn't dead.

To keep yourself from throwing out a living shrimp, I'd recommend letting it be for a week. Even if it's a moult I've never seen it negatively affect water parameters. Even if it's dead at least you'll know for sure and the impact on the water for just a week will be minimal if anything at all.

 

[Centerline]

Well, got home from work yesterday and Mr.Shrimp was dead in the corner of the tank. Not quite sure what happened? He was alive the night before. Stress perhaps? I acclimated him close to an hour in a drip. Did I do anything wrong? All parameters are good, all my fish are healthy, fat and eating.

Scared to death?

 

[MichaelReefer]

I have seen several shrimp look dead while they are about to moult. Maybe it's the moult you see but maybe it's the shrimp about to moult. In which case it's not dead. They can go completely unresponsive during this time and can be out in the open too. I have seen them be in this state for as long as 3 days before. But it wasn't dead.

To keep yourself from throwing out a living shrimp, I'd recommend letting it be for a week. Even if it's a moult I've never seen it negatively affect water parameters. Even if it's dead at least you'll know for sure and the impact on the water for just a week will be minimal if anything at all.

Even to the extent of floating out from behind my aquascape and ending up in the corner of the tank?

 

[Nano man]

What kind of wrasse do you have?

 

[MichaelReefer]

What kind of wrasse do you have?

Carpenter's flasher wrasse . Female. Shes very Docile though. Never aggressive at all. In fact, my Goby was more interested in the shrimp than her.

 

[Bret Brinkmann]

If it is floating in the water column and not just an inch above the bottom for a second, then that sounds like the moult. They usually have more transparency to them than the shrimp itself.

 

[MichaelReefer]

If it is floating in the water column and not just an inch above the bottom for a second, then that sounds like the moult. They usually have more transparency to them than the shrimp itself.

Wasn't floating, was just up against the glass in the corner.

 

[S2G]

I've never had any luck with cleaner shrimp. If yours is indeed dead and you're not absolutely set on another one, try a banded coral shrimp instead. Mine is very active. He's always out bebopping around the tank.

This is a cool shrimp. I was looking at getting one but don't know if it will get along with my skunk

 

[W1ngz]

This is a cool shrimp. I was looking at getting one but don't know if it will get along with my skunk

It's fine. I have a coral banded, skunk and blood red fire shrimp in my tank. They ignore each other.

 

[S2G]

It's fine. I have a coral banded, skunk and blood red fire shrimp in my tank. They ignore each other.

That's exactly what I wanted to do but wasn't sure. Its a 6 x 2 footprint

 

[Bret Brinkmann]

Wasn't floating, was just up against the glass in the corner.

If you're not sure, then I'd leave it. I've had shrimp sit in corners, apparently lifeless for days, only to be alive and in the middle of a moult. Leaving the moult in the tank won't hurt anything anyway.

It's fine. I have a coral banded, skunk and blood red fire shrimp in my tank. They ignore each other.

I have heard coral banded shrimp will kill other shrimp when housed in a small enough tank. They like their room and are territorial. What size tank do you have?