How many cleaner shrimp?

justrock79 · Feb 7, 2023

I'm sure this has been asked a hundred times, but I'm curious. I have a 40 gallon tank and would like to add some cleaner shrimp.

Would a pair of skunk cleaner shrimps be an ok fit for that size tank? Or just keep a single one?

bvanfish · Feb 7, 2023

Skunk cleaners are a PITA if you have coral imo. It is nice for movement but they steal all food hah

my blood shrimp is cooler looking and doesn’t rob everyone

Tuan’s Reef · Feb 7, 2023

Are planning to keep corals? If so none in my opinion. I had one for a long time . It was beautiful and active . Even had a name. The only problem was every time I feed my corals it would steal food. They are voracious eaters.

justrock79 · Feb 7, 2023

Tuan’s Reef said:
Are planning to keep corals? If so none in my opinion. I had one for a long time . It was beautiful and active . Even had a name. The only problem was every time I feed my corals it would steal food. They are voracious eaters.

Yes, we already have a few corals: xenia, Duncan and some zoa and a Goni. They would also be joining a pistol shrimp

justrock79 · Feb 7, 2023

Would blood shrimp be a better option? And would 1 or 2 be recommended?

bvanfish · Feb 7, 2023

justrock79 said:
Would blood shrimp be a better option? And would 1 or 2 be recommended?

I have 1 blood 1 cleaner in my 25 gallon and they are totally fine together. Not a pro here but in my experience they are good, so I would assume 2 would be fine.

EricR · Feb 7, 2023

I have a single skunk cleaner shrimp in a 40 gallon and really like him.

As stated, they're super aggressive so that's fun for friends/neighbors since you can hand-feed them but, as others stated, they'll steal food from anything you try to spot feed.

I only have zoas/ricordea and don't target feed them but if I ever try, I have to hand the shrimp a chunk of clam (or chunk of shrimp, doh!) to distract him.

I think two would be fine together but a single already covers a lot of area so two would be more calamity (if trying to spot feed anything).

justrock79 · Feb 8, 2023

EricR said:
I have a single skunk cleaner shrimp in a 40 gallon and really like him.

As stated, they're super aggressive so that's fun for friends/neighbors since you can hand-feed them but, as others stated, they'll steal food from anything you try to spot feed.

I only have zoas/ricordea and don't target feed them but if I ever try, I have to hand the shrimp a chunk of clam (or chunk of shrimp, doh!) to distract him.

I think two would be fine together but a single already covers a lot of area so two would be more calamity (if trying to spot feed anything).

We use to have 2 peppermint shrimp and they would steal all the food they could from everything. Leaning towards 1 skunk shrimp and 1 blood shrimp

kukawskim80 · Feb 8, 2023

justrock79 said:
I'm sure this has been asked a hundred times, but I'm curious. I have a 40 gallon tank and would like to add some cleaner shrimp.

Would a pair of skunk cleaner shrimps be an ok fit for that size tank? Or just keep a single one?

Yes a pair would be fine! Be aware they tend to steal food from coral and cause them to close up