[bongobrian]

Hey guys, can anyone give me some advice on feeding a cleaner shrimp? I recently purchased a red and white striped cs (I believe it is also called a peppermint shrimp) and so far I havn't seen him/her feed on anything. I figured it would be all over my fish cleaning parasites and what not, but so far he just hides in the live rock in the same spot. I'm just worried that if he doesn't start getting the proper food he will die. I have a maroon clown and yellow tang, but they don't seem to want to go near the shrimp. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanx.

[RobG]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that peppermints are cleaners. I have four peppermints in my tank and they behave exactly as you describe: Hiding in the LR. They come out at night and during heavy feedings.

Mine pick at critters in the DSB, and also grab some chunks of squid, krill or silversides when they get the chance.

[bongobrian]

Hmmmmm maybe I'm dealing with something else then... the shrimp is a flesh color with a thick red stripe divided by a thin white stripe down it's back. It has long white feelers and thin skinny legs. I'm pretty sure it's some sort of cleaner shrimp because I've seen it attempt to clean my tang a couple times. I guess I assumed it was a peppermint because of it's color.

[RobG]

Sounds like the same kind of cleaner I have. Is this it?



If it is, I've seen mine pick at infauna in the sandbed, grab flake food, eat the red macros I put in for the tang, eat squid and brine. It's a pig

[bongobrian]

Yep that's the guy! so I'm wondering what I should feed him if anything. Right now I'm just feeding my fish with flake food. That's the only kind of food I am putting in my tank. Perhaps I should pick up some red macro algea. I don't know if I should start adding brine or any other kind of organic. I would be afraid of it decaying. I guess I could give it a try and see if he eats it. Or would it be better to just let him find food on his own. I'm not sure there is much infauna in my tank.. I know I have some amphipods but that's probably about it. Thanks for the picture! it is a cleaner shrimp then correct?

[Penguin]

Yes, that's a Lysmata shrimp, aka scarlet cleaner shrimp. I agree with the above comments. They seem to eat just about anything they can get. Eventually he may start swimming up at the top of the tank when you feed, and snatching bits of food.