My Cleaners dead

[Chromis kid]

Hi

I'm not talking about my lady who comes in twice a week.

I have tried two cleaner shrimps in my 13gal nano on separate occasions they have both died within a week of adding. They were both introduced slowly over 2.5 hours adding tank water every 10 mins.

I have a reef lobster, 2 peppermints and a sexy shrimp, sand sifter, and RBT Anenome all doing fine. Water parameters are fine, fish and corals fine too.

Whats happening?

[Macca]

are they dying at the same time?

James

[Chromis kid]

No I added the first over a month ago it died after 5 days, the second on friday. The 2nd died last night. Was cleaning fish and looking fine yesterday. have done usual water changes twice a week nothing unusual.

[Tetley]

Hi,

Are you sure they are dead and not molted?.

atb

[Macca]

ok a long shot;

Cleaners (all shrimps) molt. During this time they can fall victim to other shrimps / crustaceans. Peppermint shrimp are the more than likely culprits in your setup IMO. In a large display having 4 shrimps would not be a problem as they could hide while molting but in a 13g nano it might be a bit overcrowded.

If you have found a molt next to the dead shrimp then this could be a sign of what I said. It has been reported that a lack of iodine can also lead to shrimps dying when molting. Not 100% sure on this but scientifically it is said to help by dosing iodine???

As I said these two answers could be correct or a long way off, just my thoughts.

James

[MR Teee]

Clearly its not acclimatisation, as your method sounds fine and everything else has survived.

James molting explanation sounds very plausable, are reef lobsters aggressive too? as he could be another culprit.

[Chromis kid]

There was no molt next to the shrimp; I add red sea calcium 3+ supplement that contains iodine once a week.

The peppermints are larger than both of the cleaners; I have seen them bullying the cleaner the other day. I had the peppermints because of an anenome problem.

My reef lobster seems fine he hides away all day and skulks around the back of the live rock when the lights go out, mainly after bristle worms.

I'll try again by putting a cleaner into my newish 4 footer. Fingers crossed.

Thanks guys for your replies have posted on other forums with no replies, "c’mon reef corals yeah".

[Guest]

i have a fair sized pink reef lobster that i have had for some time he has not as yet bothered the 2 cleaners or the 3 dancers i have in the tank

john

[trik]

ok a long shot;

Cleaners (all shrimps) molt. During this time they can fall victim to other shrimps / crustaceans. Peppermint shrimp are the more than likely culprits in your setup IMO. In a large display having 4 shrimps would not be a problem as they could hide while molting but in a 13g nano it might be a bit overcrowded.

If you have found a molt next to the dead shrimp then this could be a sign of what I said. It has been reported that a lack of iodine can also lead to shrimps dying when molting. Not 100% sure on this but scientifically it is said to help by dosing iodine???

As I said these two answers could be correct or a long way off, just my thoughts.

James

sorry James but from what i understand a lot of, or to much iodine causes crustacea molt to fast hence early death,

as stated by Shimekdo do not add exess iodine , which will cause premature molting and lower life expectancy,(Marine inverts page 244) but i have also read this in a number of places, also shrimps are very sensitive to fish waste ie hi nitrites/nitrates,

Richard

[trik]

There was no molt next to the shrimp; I add red sea calcium 3+ supplement that contains iodine once a week.

The peppermints are larger than both of the cleaners; I have seen them bullying the cleaner the other day. I had the peppermints because of an anenome problem.

My reef lobster seems fine he hides away all day and skulks around the back of the live rock when the lights go out, mainly after bristle worms.

I'll try again by putting a cleaner into my newish 4 footer. Fingers crossed.

Thanks guys for your replies have posted on other forums with no replies, "c’mon reef corals yeah".

so have you tested for iodine ? if your adding in once aweek your supplement are you sure you dont have exess iodine , calcuim ect

Richard