Silver34
New Member
So I have read a lot of threads on these guys and how they get lost and eaten almost immediately after being added to the tank. I would like to keep these shrimp I have no experience with them just yet but hopefully, soon I will, so I would appreciate it if you guys could add to this conversation and give some tips on how to avoid the biggest problem with them which is predation since they are so small and arrive even smaller also just genuine advice on how to keep them long term I know they don't like salinity swings, you can also keep them like in an enclosed like fish trap type thing till they grow out in your tank if you don't have a sump. Now that this is out of the way, let me share my theories on how we can have more success with this shrimp in the hobby. So first things first there are a lot of reports of these guys being eaten in the tank by mainly I have noticed fish from the Indo-Pacific that cannot recognize that they are a beneficial cleaner shrimp so if you mainly have fish from Geographical areas where this shrimp is not found I would advise you not keep it without its natural protection being the Condy/Curlique anemones or any other Caribbean anemone or just go for an anemone/cleaner shrimp from the Indo-Pacific This opens the way to another idea I have: to avoid the shrimp from walking around and getting lost, have a Caribbean anemone host it so it stays in place with the anemone. I especially recommend this species for people who have smaller nano, pico reef fish, or herbivorous fish who aren't interested in eating these shrimp or aquariums with mainly Tropical Western Atlantic fish that know this shrimp is not to be eaten since it is a beneficial cleaner. To have the best success with this species, I think it should be kept with Tropical Western Atlantic fish. To see maximum cleaning behavior, also keep it with a Caribbean anemone since most fish that are looking for cleaning services especially in the wild fish are attracted to the anemone since reef fish have synchronized anemones with cleaning services. I always think it is important to replicate natural ecosystems in our aquariums but it is important to keep in mind that our tanks are not the ocean and the same relationships that happen in the ocean sometimes just won't work in our tanks so I advise people to still stay away from this shrimp if they have things like triggers or groupers, predatory fish, etc even if they are from the Caribbean they may clean these fish in the wild but our tanks don't always have the same factors/stimulations as the wild. It is also important to mention that these shrimp only live for about a year, though that is still a short time to make the most of it they also need supplemental feedings of sinking carnivore pellets to live a long and happy 1-year life and always keep sable salinity as they do not like salinity swings. As I said earlier, feel free to add to the conversation, and what I have mentioned here is not confirmed. These are just my theories. I am looking forward to the replies; thank you.
