Cleaner being ganged up on - Aquarium Advice

havefun · 12-02-2006, 02:50 PM

So last night I was at the LFS to buy some salt. While I was there I just *happened* to walk by the tanks. They had 1 skunk cleaner and it was only $19.00. He looked a little small but I've always wanted one so I figured what the heck. I got him home and sat by the bucket for 3 hours while he acclimated to my tank (drip).
For some reason he looked even smaller next to my tank - anyway, after the 3 hours I scooped him up and gently placed him on a rock.
Now, I have this other fish that I was a little concerned about, a skunkback pseudochromis. I only have a few fish but this one is my favorite - he has the most character. He is constantly checkout the lr for any movement. If he sees something he just hovers motionless staring at it, sort of like a humming bird. Then he'll just smash into it - snails, hermits, etc usually knocking them to the sand.
The poor little cleaner wasn't in there more than 1 minute before the fish spotted him. Instantly the fish started in on the cleaner - I found myself yelling at the fish and waving my hands trying to scare him away

Well eventually the cleaner found the safety of a cave under a rock. The problem there was that the cave was excavated by a pistol shrimp. The cleaner disappeared and it took all of 5 seconds before I heard *POP* and then a few seconds later another *POP*.
He made it back out to safety but I think it might be a while before he feels brave enough to start his cleaning duties.

So that was my Friday night excitement!

loyalrogue · 12-03-2006, 02:04 AM

Much better excitement than watching the tube.

I had a similar situation.
Hope your little guy makes it.
Good deal on the shrimp.
My wife paid almost $30 for her first one.

havefun · 12-03-2006, 05:47 PM

Well I haven't seen him yet today. I'm hoping he's just in the back somewhere.

boardsurfer · 12-05-2006, 12:08 PM

I had put a peppermint shrimp in my 55gal with a bi-color pseudochromis, and it did the same thing (beating it up a little bit). I saw the shrimp go into a hole and I hadn't seen him for a few weeks and i thought it had been eaten by my bi-color. BUT, 5 MONTHS LATER...i saw the shrimp stick his head out of a hole in the LR! Cool... He's still alive and kicking...

havefun · 12-05-2006, 05:53 PM

Ha ha, cool! It's amazing that we will spend $20 or more for something we might see a couple of times a year.

I found mine last night - he was in the back hanging under some rock ... woohoo!

**roka64** · 12-05-2006, 06:00 PM

Cool, keep in mind, they tend to hide after a molt.

12-02-2006, 02:50 PM	#1
havefun Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dubuque, Iowa Posts: 350 Images: 2	Cleaner being ganged up on So last night I was at the LFS to buy some salt. While I was there I just happened to walk by the tanks. They had 1 skunk cleaner and it was only $19.00. He looked a little small but I've always wanted one so I figured what the heck. I got him home and sat by the bucket for 3 hours while he acclimated to my tank (drip). For some reason he looked even smaller next to my tank - anyway, after the 3 hours I scooped him up and gently placed him on a rock. Now, I have this other fish that I was a little concerned about, a skunkback pseudochromis. I only have a few fish but this one is my favorite - he has the most character. He is constantly checkout the lr for any movement. If he sees something he just hovers motionless staring at it, sort of like a humming bird. Then he'll just smash into it - snails, hermits, etc usually knocking them to the sand. The poor little cleaner wasn't in there more than 1 minute before the fish spotted him. Instantly the fish started in on the cleaner - I found myself yelling at the fish and waving my hands trying to scare him away Well eventually the cleaner found the safety of a cave under a rock. The problem there was that the cave was excavated by a pistol shrimp. The cleaner disappeared and it took all of 5 seconds before I heard POP and then a few seconds later another POP. He made it back out to safety but I think it might be a while before he feels brave enough to start his cleaning duties. So that was my Friday night excitement!

12-05-2006, 12:08 PM	#4
boardsurfer Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 471 Images: 12	I had put a peppermint shrimp in my 55gal with a bi-color pseudochromis, and it did the same thing (beating it up a little bit). I saw the shrimp go into a hole and I hadn't seen him for a few weeks and i thought it had been eaten by my bi-color. BUT, 5 MONTHS LATER...i saw the shrimp stick his head out of a hole in the LR! Cool... He's still alive and kicking... __________________ 55gal, Coralife Lunar Aqualight 4x65watt, 2 Maxi-Jet 1200's, Aqua C Remora, Penguin 330 dual bio-wheel(no wheels), 110lbs LR. 50lbs Sand & CC. Berlin Method of filtration. 1 Yellow-tailed Damsel, 1 Yellow Coral Banded Shrimp, 4 Peppermint Shrimp, 20+ Blue-legged & Mexican Red-legged hermits, many snails, corals.

12-05-2006, 06:00 PM	#6
roka64 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 10,328 Images: 12	Cool, keep in mind, they tend to hide after a molt. __________________ Uh-oh, I just overloaded my Bioload! Questions loved, heeded advice greatly appreciated! Vote for AA Good reading about: Nitrogen Cycle Fishless Cycling Need more help? Articles Acronym List --Scott

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12-03-2006, 02:04 AM	#2
loyalrogue Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2006 Location: Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA Posts: 231 Images: 3	Much better excitement than watching the tube. I had a similar situation. Hope your little guy makes it. Good deal on the shrimp. My wife paid almost $30 for her first one.

12-03-2006, 05:47 PM	#3
havefun Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dubuque, Iowa Posts: 350 Images: 2	Well I haven't seen him yet today. I'm hoping he's just in the back somewhere.

12-05-2006, 05:53 PM	#5
havefun Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dubuque, Iowa Posts: 350 Images: 2	Ha ha, cool! It's amazing that we will spend $20 or more for something we might see a couple of times a year. I found mine last night - he was in the back hanging under some rock ... woohoo!