Cleaner Shrimp Feeding Question

Hi Guys,

I was wondering if I need to be feeding more for what I have. I am most worried about the 2 cleaner shrimp I have not getting enough. They seem to be very active and eat when I feed, but my two clowns are pigs. I normally feed them a half a cube a day. I alternate between mysis shrimp, brine shrimp plus, and frozen marine cuisine. I have the granules but they are usually too big for them, so I don't feed them that. I also feed them flakes in the afternoon about 3 times a week. I have 2 Clarkii clowns and 2 cleaner shrimp. In the clean up crew, I have 50 dwarf cerith, 3 Florida cerith, 2 nassarius vibex, 8 large nerite, 2 black turbo, 3 blue leg hermits. I have zero nitrates so I don't think I am overfeeding (but could be). I also have three clumps of chaeto in the sump. Anyway, do you guys think that my shrimp are getting enough? What are signs, other than diminished size, that I should looks for? Thanks in advance!!!!

Regards,
Ivy

 

Just feed them one granule they will take that and go and hide and feed from that what ever they don't eat your cuc will finish the rest. The use of a turkey blaster will be great here.

 

I dont target feed my shrimp,
I feed marine flakes to my fish and my cleaner gets plenty, + why over feed him?
If he gets full he will not be doing his job and working on the fish.

 

The cleaner shrimp will get their share believe me, they can be a pain sometimes when i'm target feeding my corals. They like to hang out by the candy canes and check them constantly at night to see if I have fed the ccs anything they can steal. I have to give them something to keep them occupied while I target feed. They also get plenty when I feed the fish and are constantly cleaning the rock so I wouldn't worry about the cleaners they definately know how to fend for themselves...lol.

 

wouldn't worrie about this myself they will fend for themselfs

 

Thanks for the replies guys. They do go after the food (they even swim upside down on the top) but my clowns bully them around. I haven't seen them clean the fish yet. They hav. Tried but the clowns won't allow it yet.

On a side note, I noticed one of them had molted this morning. I hope that he will be okay. I saw his antennae sticking out from behind a rock but I didn't want to scare him.

Thanks again!!!!

Ivy

 

Exactly! I once caught mine pulling krill out of the dendro's mouth. Not a happy dendro. I have to send him around to the other side of the tank when target feeding.

 

I'll give mine a small chunk of raw shrimp once a week. I wasn't sure if the flakes he fumbles around actually made it to his mouth so I supplement. I dont think a clown would ever let your cleaner clean em. The only fish I have that enjoys being cleaned is my lawnmower blenny.

 

all this time and i had no idea that cleaner shrimp actually cleaned fish themselves.....just thought they picked at algae and what not. wow....learn sumthin new everyday. i have never seen my bleeny eat any prepared foods. just picks off the rocks and glass....is that normal? just affraid he may starve.

 

haha exactly the same with mine