Questions about a Cleaner Shrimp

Ok, Ill start by telling you about my setup- I have a 120 gallon FOWLR (Filstar canister filter, Coralia 3, Coralife 33004 skimmer, 45lb live rock, 120 lb live sand, and as of Monday I will have a UV sterilizer). The tank has been up and running since this spring, and I am contemplating adding a cleaner shrimp. I currently have a foxface, coral beauty, 2 firefish, 6 green chromis, longfinned bannerfish, orangeback wrasse, 2 clowns, sandsifting goby, sandsifting star (it was an impulse buy and now I realize the difficulties of keeping this species) and a scooter blenny. Everyone is pretty laid back in my tank- no bullys as of yet, and I am wondering what kind of care, etc that the cleaner shrimp needs (diet, hiding places, water param's). I test my water twice a week, and since cycling, have never had any major spikes. I am very dedicated to my tank and fish, and want to make sure that I have a suitable home for the shrimp. Also, I feed flakes in the morning, frozen in the evenings, and seaweed every other day. I would certainly appreciate your thoughts and advice.

 

I forgot to add my water param's just in case- 8.3 pH, 0 ammonia/nitrites, 5 nitrates, 1.022 salinity, temp 78*

Thanks!!!

 

First you need to check to see if your tank has any predators of a cleaner shrimp (orangeback wrasse might be?)... But once you get them past acclimation they are really fun to have and fairly easy to keep then!

 

hey, considering the wrasse and foxface, i would reccomend a medium to large skunk cleaner shrimp, and it will be beneficial in cleaning your fish and it would just eat whatever it can find, mine loves flakes

 

Well, they do fine with frozen foods. At Least mine does. Every thing else is pretty much the same.

 

They are sensitive to salinity so try to keep it from fluctuating a lot. The initial acclimation is always hard so be careful. And for food. It will be notime until they are stealing the food from your fish lol. They eat anything!

 

dont take to long with acclimation though, i never acclimate anything for more than 45 min. and have never lost anything, alot of people acclimate for hours when that just stresses them out more

 

Pertty hardy. There are ornamental things in my tank, and there are funtional things. Cleaner shrimp is functional. It took quite a bit for him to start cleaning, but now he is at the ready 24/7, runs a fine shop. Keeps em all spick and span. Love em.

 

Yeah!! They are the such a nice addition to a tank. Once it gets comfortable it will even jump to your hand and " clean" it. Just make sure you never add copper based remedies or things like that or you'll kill it. ( ofcourse you may already know that.. It doesn't hurt to make sure though )

 

Ya, it's kind of wierd. Obviously it isn't attacking me, but a little wierd none the less.