Coral banded shrimp and Skunk Cleaner shrimp.

Hey guys.. I'm considering on getting 4-5 skunk cleaners for my tank.

I used to have 3 but they all died when I moved. ( they survived the move, but then died unexpectedly a few weeks later). Same happened with my peppermints.

The only thing that changed was that I had my Coral banded shrimp in the same tank because I tore down my 29G.

I suspected that he killed them? is this unheard of?

I want to get more shrimp into my tank but I wasn't sure if it would be a good idea without removing my coral banded shrimp.

 

Some people can keep them together, and some can't.

IMOPE, I was told they would be fine together if the CB was added last. After the SC had been in the tank a few weeks, I added the CB. He barely set foot on the sand when the SC jumped on his back and in a matter of seconds, dismembered him, ripped his shell open and began feasting...

 

so your skunks killed your Coral banded shrimp? ( the opposite of my case?)

I was thinking on removing my Coral banded from my tank anyway because he doesn't do much.. At least the skunks will clean my fish and be out more. It will be a pain taking him out, that's why I need some input.

 

Yes, absolutely. They are best known as enemies, but with the CB being the aggressor. Obviously, it can go either way.

 

They decided to take revenge

I knew I shouldn't have added that shrimp to my tank LOL do you know what's their life span? mine is a good 2-3 or so years old. I could wait until it dies if it's not too long ;D

 

i think it depends on the size of the tank. If you have a small tank, like 29g biocube. Then yes you have a chance of the CB killing the cleaner. Now in a larger tank the cleaner has space to quickly get away from the CB.

 

Is this in your 150? They might actually be fine with that much room. If your CB killed your other shrimp, it should've been noticeable that they were attacked. Also, even in the 29, none of my other shrimp ever bothered the peppermints.

 

well, they were "healthy looking" and then they disappeared. I found some pieces of them ( not exoskeleton, just actual pieces of them close to my coral banded's hideout).

They could have died and then he might of ate them.. but the possibility is still there.

 

I love my coral banded pair. Super active fun to watch, and constanty producing food for the tank. Maybe you just need one more CBS.

 

OK... now it makes sense to assume he killed them. That's most likely the case.

I wouldn't recommend adding any other shrimp while he's still in the tank. One trick to help with removal: If you can corner him away from corals, etc and squirt him with a turkey baster full of RO/DI FRESH water, that will shock him long enough to net him out.

Personally, I like the CBs. Mine is always out, cleaning between the rocks and around the corals. Wouldn't trade him for a whole tankful of SCs.