cleaner shrimp

[schrophi]

I m new to the SW tanks and I was curious about the cleaner shrimp. Are they really that much better than the peppermint shrimp> WHats the difference?
I heard cleaners dont eat algae is that right?

 

[Fishfreak]

Cleaners will clean the fish and eat parasites like ick. SOmetimes they will even clean their mouths.

 

[schrophi]

so is it good to have one?

 

[Fishfreak]

Yes, and they are pretty neat to watch. They are usually found hanging upside down under caves or rocks.

 

[schrophi]

That sounds cool,
I had a few peppermint shrimp before but they would only come out when i would feed the fish and at night....

 

[1979camaro]

the parasite eating benefits of the cleaners are overated imo but they are neat little shrim anyway

 

[schrophi]

would you say blood shrimp are better? or do they even do/eat the same thing?

 

[wayne]

I wouldn't expect to see a blood shrimp too often.... mine is usually hiding

 

[1979camaro]

i agree with wayne on the bloodshrimp, they hide in dark areas almost all the time

 

[schrophi]

so are they like the peppermint shrimp? Because i had those, but they were always scared of the fish.
Do the Cleaner shripm also eat a litlle algae?

 

[1979camaro]

the shrimp might eat a little algae but i wouldn't count on it...for some reason people seem to think they are an integral part of a cleanup crew but i really don't see things that way

the cleaners are less shy than peppermints ime

 

[KahluaZzZ]

i just have to put my hand into the tank and my 2 scarlet skunk shrimps jump on me. It tickles . Very fun addition to the tank. Also fish cleaners junkies, they always want to ride and check for parasites. Dunno if they are super efficient, but fun to watch riding a tang in motion.

 

[KahluaZzZ]

Mine are just shy during molting.

 

[dbacksrat]

I think shrimp are purely ornamental in a tank--but it is pretty neat watching them clean fish (my yellow watchman goby went "submissive" on my cleaner, who rolled him around and "dragged" him along during cleaning)
just a warning--cleaners from the Lysmata genus have been known to eat cnidarians and other soft corals

 

[wayne]

They're definitely nice to have, but the blood is very , very shy.

But in all honesty seeing as your tank seems to have some problems , adding anything doesn't seem very smart. Certainly they won't eat your algae.

 

[dbacksrat]

if you want something to nibble at your algae, try a clean up crew--but they can only make a small dent in your mess
some hermit crabs, a couple snails, maybe an emerald crab, etc

 

[schrophi]

Yeah wayne i wasnt thinking of putting it in now...
I was just curious how they are because i was always debating if i should buy one