How long do your skunk cleaner shrimp live for?

AydenLincoln

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It occured to me my skunk cleaner shrimp live for about a year and then disappear/die on me. The second one just died after about a year I usually get them fairly small and they molt many times before succumbing to what I assume is getting stuck in their own molt usually the cause of death for most crustaceans. How long do yours live?
 
I don’t know why, but it’s always right around a year for me too. They’re fine, then out of nowhere, they just stop moving, even when I get them young.

For some reason, it also happens within 2-3 months after I move them to a different tank.

I guess they need better care than we think.
 
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Didn't have one like yours, but on two separate occasions I had a Coral Banded Shrimp live to about 3 years. Those are hardy little devils!
 
My last tank I had one for 3 years when I took down the tank.

I just got one for this tank about 2 months ago now. He’s my sons favorite so he needs to last forever lol
 
My last tank I had one for 3 years when I took down the tank.

I just got one for this tank about 2 months ago now. He’s my sons favorite so he needs to last forever lol
And with little kids, they can! I had a pet garter snake when I was a little boy. His name was Snakey (yeah, I know!). Snakey died, but my Dad told me that Snakey was just hibernating. I bought it. So Snakey is still alive somewhere!
 
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And with little kids, they can! I had a pet garter snake when I was a little boy. His name was snakey (yeah, I know!). Snakey died, but my Dad told me that snakey was just hibernating. I bought it. So snakey is still alive somewhere!

I feel that. We have done that once already when the first one came and died overnight lol

His name is Shrimpy haha
 
GI feel that. We have done that once already when the first one came and died overnight lol

His name is Shrimpy haha
It's nice to know that there is consistency in life!!!!
 
Mine last almost exactly a year and a half but you never know how old they are when you purchase them. I always tend to grab the biggest one.
 
My skunk is over two years old. His buddy only lasted about a year though.

After reading this thread I shall henceforth call him 'Grandad'.

Edit: he's been in my tank two years and four months, to be exact.
 
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LOL, yes.
My royal gramma still kicking too, 10.5 years. Looks like h3ll.
Oh Lord, I bet! Does he shake his fist (fin) at the younger fish while complaining about their work (swim) ethic?!
 
I had my first skunk cleaner shrimp for about 2.5 years before it suffered from what appeared to be a bad/failed molt for some unknown reason.
*hung on for about another 5 days looking decrepit and then disappeared
 
I find that just about all shrimp last about 7 years.
Like practically everyone else who posted, my cleaner shrimp don't last more than a couple years.

I feed whole shellfish every day, no water issues as far as I can tell. If you had to take a stab at it, what would be your best guess as to why the shortened lifespan?

FWIW, I also practice no QT.
 

WHICH KIND OF INVERT HAS CAUSED THE MOST MISCHIEF IN YOUR TANK?

  • Sea urchins

    Votes: 8 21.1%
  • Hermit crabs

    Votes: 4 10.5%
  • Other crabs

    Votes: 4 10.5%
  • Shrimp

    Votes: 4 10.5%
  • Snails or conchs

    Votes: 2 5.3%
  • Sea stars

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Anemones

    Votes: 8 21.1%
  • None! My inverts are model citizens. :-)

    Votes: 6 15.8%
  • Something else (tell us in the comments)

    Votes: 2 5.3%
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