Shrimp babies?

Discussion in 'Inverts' started by hingedthinker, Apr 20, 2012.

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  1. hingedthinker

    hingedthinker Fire Worm

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    ImageUploadedByTapatalk1334978089.864782.jpg I have two cleaner shrimp in my 24g cardiff. One is larger and appears to be carrying a bunch of greenish eggs? Anyone know what is up with this thing?

    [​IMG]
     
    hingedthinker, Apr 20, 2012
    hingedthinker, Apr 20, 2012
    #1

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  2. SushiGirl

    SushiGirl Barracuda

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    It's carrying eggs.
     
    SushiGirl, Apr 20, 2012
    SushiGirl, Apr 20, 2012
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  3. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    Yup. Why are you surprised?

    FWIW, if you have any fish in there, the babies won't last long.
     
    Mr. Bill, Apr 20, 2012
    Mr. Bill, Apr 20, 2012
    #3
  4. Renee@LionfishLair

    Renee@LionfishLair 3reef Sponsor

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    I can always tell when the shrimp let loose the night before... the filefish and anthias are all fat when the lights come on.
     
    Renee@LionfishLair, Apr 21, 2012
    Renee@LionfishLair, Apr 21, 2012
    #4
  5. ReefBruh

    ReefBruh Giant Squid

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    You are about to be a proud tank parent......Until.
     
    ReefBruh, Apr 21, 2012
    ReefBruh, Apr 21, 2012
    #5
  6. hingedthinker

    hingedthinker Fire Worm

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    Ya, I figured that the eggs are fish food...same as any others in a confined environment. Thanks for verifying for me. They have been carrying them for over 2 weeks now. The smaller shrimp has some in its tail flipper things too. I hope the fish eat them. I'm not ready for 100's of cleaner shrimp in my tank.
     
    hingedthinker, Apr 21, 2012
    hingedthinker, Apr 21, 2012
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  7. hingedthinker

    hingedthinker Fire Worm

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    BTW, are cleaner shrimp asexual or do I have a male and female pair?
     
    hingedthinker, Apr 21, 2012
    hingedthinker, Apr 21, 2012
    #7
  8. Mr. Bill

    Mr. Bill Native Floridian

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    They are both male and female; however, one cannot fertilize it's own eggs. They must play one role or the other with a partner.
     
    Mr. Bill, Apr 21, 2012
    Mr. Bill, Apr 21, 2012
    #8
  9. SushiGirl

    SushiGirl Barracuda

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    They're hermaphrodites. When one molts, the other transfers sperm to it before its exoskeleton hardens, then they take turns exchanging sperm as each one molts. You won't have a tank full of cleaner shrimp, I've found no one who has raised them successfully. They'll last a few hours in the tank and either die (when they touch a rock or the glass, it can kill them) or they'll get eaten by everything else in your tank.
     
    SushiGirl, Apr 21, 2012
    SushiGirl, Apr 21, 2012
    #9
  10. grinder37

    grinder37 Whip-Lash Squid

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    Look on the bright side,no one will have to pay any child support.
     
    grinder37, Apr 21, 2012
    grinder37, Apr 21, 2012
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