Preference on Shrimp?

[eddie]

I have read a lot about the different types of shrimps. My question is what type of shrimp would you recommend for a reef tank and why? I know this a broad question but just wanted to see what people have and recommend. :D

[Viet-Tin]

I really like scarlett skunk cleaner shrimp. They are a nice addition and wont bother fish or coral. They will clean any fish that may need its services.

[fishcrazy]

Depends on the size but a Cleaner and Fire shrimp are a must. Fire because they are without a doubt the most eye pleasing and cleaner because they have the most personality. I actually hand feed my cleaner shrimp.

[Mr_Cool]

Cleaner shrimp. It's so cool to watch them pick at the fish in the tank. If you have tangs, you'll surely want to get a cleaner shrimp or two.

I have one cleaner and one coral banded shrimp. The coral banded can be more aggressive, but mine seems just fine.

[Ram_Puppy]

one of our members here (bucky katt - rarely posts) had a coral banded shrimp execute a scooter blenny right before his eyes...

i wont be putting one in my tank. ;)

[caferacermike]

I'd say those big ones from the coast taste the best. The really big jumbo ones hold up well on the barbecue.

Ok ok, I don't really know as I'm a vegematarian.

I'd def second staying away from coral banded. My friend got one and it wiped out almost every living thing in his 40g. It was so quick he hardly had a chance to figure out what happened.

For me my favorite shrimp is the saron shrimp. I have 2. They seem to be rare in the hobby. Fire shrimp are nice on the eyes but so plain and ordinary. You want a shrimp with about 10 different colors? Saron is the answer. From greens, yellows, blues, to spots of yellow, and orange. No pinschers only fans and those tiny little scavenger feet. truly gorgeous and not ever seen in the trade.

[Ram_Puppy]

mike, when liveaquaria had a descriptor of sauran shrimp it was always 'with caution' on the reef compatibility... what your describing is different... can you tell us more about it? pics?

[Richard]

Regular saron shrimp are very common. We never order them because they like to eat corals maybe that's why you don't see them in shops much.

A group of sexy shrimp is pretty cool and will host on corals when an anemone is not present. Very small though so you can have any potential shrimp eaters in with them.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1135

[Viet-Tin]

Saron shrimp are nice but IME they grow to become aggressive. They started fighting with my cleaner and began eating my polyps as well. They even bullied small fish that swam by them. Sexy shrimp are cool, be careful when adding them in...poor little guy didnt have a chance when my tang spotted him floating down.

[Ram_Puppy]

i must say that I would love for there to be a wider variety of reef safe shrimp in the hobby. there are some pics of indo - pacific varieties in calfo & finners reef invertebrates that make me drool, translucent blue bodies, etc... i wish collection would expand.

Sam at ZenReef was getting some cool mud crabs that were supposed to be the indo-pacific version of emeralds, but i was always to scared to take the chance. :)

[jrnannery]

For me my favorite shrimp is the saron shrimp. I have 2. They seem to be rare in the hobby. Fire shrimp are nice on the eyes but so plain and ordinary. You want a shrimp with about 10 different colors? Saron is the answer. From greens, yellows, blues, to spots of yellow, and orange. No pinschers only fans and those tiny little scavenger feet. truly gorgeous and not ever seen in the trade.

Pics?

[Ram_Puppy]

No pinschers only fans

I am wondernig if you were sold a 'saron' shrimp under the wrong name.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/saronshrimp.htm

[eddie]

I do have 2 tangs but they don't have ich atleast for now :unsure

[caferacermike]

For the record I've never seen my saron eat any corals that were not dying. They don't mess with any of my zoas, LPS or SPS. I can attest to the fact that they leave my SPS alone by the amount of polyp extension I constantly have. Now I have seen them eat an LPS that got damaged. It got a tear do to a rock falling on it and they did go after it about 3 days later. But then again I see fish do that to. My saron are the same as the ones you showed me Ram Puppy, I do not see the connection in your above posts asking if I had the "right" saron shimp. If you look at the pics in that link you will notice that they do not have pinschers like a coral banded. And in fact in person they have very large fans in front of them that they use to comb the water. They spend the evenings poking their front legs into holes in my rockwork looking like scavengers. I also did not state that I have had mine since I set up my tank last year in April. That makes it almost a year and a half old. You are all welcome to come and see mine. I enjoy showing them off as they are getting quite large now at 2 1/2".

[Ram_Puppy]

mike, I might just have to swing by and see them next time i am up there. they are gorgeous shrimp, and i would love to have one, but when people like calfo say 'unsafe' i tend to heed their warnings. oh, and i hope you know i don't mean any offense and i wasn't attacking you, just trying to figure out why your experience is different from wat is usually reported, I figured mis-identification on part of the store was most likely... hmm.. maybe these shrimp have a rep they don't deserve.

[caferacermike]

None taken and none felt Ram. I was only saying that after the description and spelling I gave that there would be any question as to whether they were the same ones.

Oh and that offer to drop by is open to everyone, not just Ram.

[lhoy]

I have a couple of "Sauron" looking shrimp that a friend got on the Texas coast. They are a cool greenish color and have never bothered anything. He gave me a tank and they were in the tank. I kept them and they have been with fish, zoos, lps, peppermint shrimp, and others and have never bothered anything. I will try and get some pics but they are on the more reclusive side.

Lee

[ReefyEm]

I love my cleaner shrimp and the sexy shrimp I had. My cleaners always have eggs which is good because I think that is why my corals are looking so good at home. The sexies are best in a nano and they are really cute.

[Viet-Tin]

Anyone every try the golden or blue cbs? I read that they stay small maybe around 2" or so. If anything I would think my cleaner would pick on him since theyre so little.

[eddie]

What about peppermint shrimp????

[eddie]

???

[ReefyEm]

They're good to have but usually hide during the day. I hardly ever saw mine and it dissappeared. They may or may not eat aiptasia though. Plus...you can catch a few on the jetties down here ;)

[prof]

I always add peppermint shrimp. Even if they don't go after the aptasia they are great scavengers.

Fire shrimp are cleaner shrimp. They usually don't clean as actively as the scarlets. I used to have one and the fish would swim over to him to get cleaned. I also love the dark red.


Does anyone have or know the breakdown of what shrimp can be kept together? If I remember right you can't put some shrimp with others.

[Ram_Puppy]

that would be a con-specific table... w/ shrimp i think it is mainly keeping your sexes and pairs straight.