Cleaning fish/invert

[BA]

i know this is mainly a reef site, but mayb some1 can help me...when i get my new tank up and running... i want a fish, or invert to go around cleaning my fish...i tried a cleaner wrasse, but my eel ate him... i want to try a cleaner shrimp but i have a large lionfish, and i think he will be gone in a second, or eaten by the shark...any suggestions???
thx
Bobby

[Richard]

I think your best bet would be Neon Gobies. Add them add night so they get a chance to get their wits about them and can avoid becoming lionfish food. Cleaners wrasses are supposed to be pretty much impossible to keep long term due to their unknown dietary requirements.

[Sunhutch]

My Neon Gobies have been great! Although I had a hard time getting them, no one had them in town and I couldnt get anyone to order them. I did a group order with Alexwolf on two occasions for them. First order was from saltwaterfish.com, they were very small and only 1 out of 3 survived. Second order was from reeftopia and all three survived.

[BA]

but are neon gobies much like a cleaner wrasse???if so i don't know if they can make it pass the lionfish unless they hid all the time, then what use would they serve the other fish?

[Richard]

With any of the cleaner species (shrimp or fish) your going to have to hope your lion doesn't decide to make a meal out of them. The neons are pretty smart about not becoming dinner but if your lion decides to spend all of his time hunting them it will just be a matter of time before he gets them. I think they are your best choice but yeah it's still a risk. If you want to try it, check with Al (or Payton) at Redcrest Petshop in Boerne, he gets some really nice sized ones (best I've ever seen) from some of his collector buddies.

I have a customer who kept a school of damsels with a big volitans for about a year in a 125 gallon. She did not have any problems until she went on vacation for a week. Damsels were gone when she got back.

[Tim Marvin]

UV sterilizer.

[BA]

ya i already have a big one, but i just wanted a fish, that could help, and be like a little remora..