cleaner shrimp pregnant?

Discussion in 'ASAP' started by sykes_33, Oct 26, 2007.

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  1. sykes_33

    sykes_33 Astrea Snail

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    One day I woke up and found my cleaner shrimp committing suicide in my sea anemone.. Not sure what happened but never the less I went and bought another one only this one is pregnant with green eggs under her belly. I would like nature take its course but not sure how to do this.. Right now I have her chilling in my refigium where nobody can eat her eggs or stress her. Does anybody have information on this? Will she give birth and if so, how long? Any info on this would be great.
     
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  3. amcarrig

    amcarrig Super Moderator

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    The eggs may or may not be fertile but even if they are, you'd need a special/complicated setup in order to raise the fry. It's best to just let her release her eggs and/or fry and let them feed your fish and corals.
     
  4. sykes_33

    sykes_33 Astrea Snail

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    abortion clinic is open.. booo hoo
     
  5. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

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    My cleaner shrimp also gets eggs, but without a male around, they just become sushi for the rest. I also had one peppermint shrimp lay some eggs and I have a bunch of little baby shrimps everywhere. Esp. in the corner over flow compartment. They will find a way to survive. When I first noticed the baby shrimps, they where under rocks, in the rocks, just anywhere they can hide. So dont even stress about it, some will survive. Luna
     
  6. amcarrig

    amcarrig Super Moderator

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    :lol: Don't feel so bad. Like Luna mentioned, some might survive but most, if not all, will be eaten.
     
  7. JustPhish

    JustPhish Peppermint Shrimp

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    Any two cleaner shrimp will form a breeding pair as they are both male and female at the same time.

    However, the shrimp are more than likely not going to amount to anything more than food as very few people have bred cleaners in captivity successfully past a few days. Even if they find a place to hide, they're probably not going to find the right foods in the amounts they need without serious intervention from the tank owner.
     
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  9. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

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    You might be right, but the babies started off as half the size of a grain of sand and now thier about the size of a paper clip( dia. of the wire) not to mention their in the corner flow chamber where there are no predators
     
  10. amcarrig

    amcarrig Super Moderator

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    Are you sure you're not seeing mysid shrimp? I have a ton of these in my refugium.
     
  11. JustPhish

    JustPhish Peppermint Shrimp

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    Yeah I was thinking the same thing.
     
  12. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

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    Im not an expert, but they look like peppermint shrimp. They have that redish color to them and have a white dot right behind the eyes. If that sounds like a mysid to you then you are right. I wish I could take a pic for you guys but I know that it wouldnt come out good. Luna