How many shrimp?

[TitoBoyz2491]

I havea 20 gallon reef that currently houses a 4 stripe damsel, yellow watchman, and a royal gramma. I currently have 2 small peppermint shrimp and a pistol shrimp who i rarely see, (he's always making burrows around the tank) and want to know if its okay to pick up a cleaner shrimp. Hes the size of the pepperments, which arent that big. Sound okay?

 

[Tomchong22]

Yeah you can add another. A cuc does not really count to your bio load. Just make sure they have enough food for all of them. If u don't want another shrimp u can look into a turbo snail.

 

[DA fisherman]

Huh...... No pistol shrimps actively hunt cleaner shrimps.... Unless you have a BIG tank I say NO. look up "Pistol shrimp" video on YouTube.
Yes you can add more Snails and other clean up crew but not a turbo snail either as it will add to your bio-load.....you can literally sit there and watch them poop all the neutralments they eat...and hermit crabs will also become victims of your pistol shrimp ..... I know I watch mine kill hermits,and my fire shrimp :-/

But you can always give it a try

 

[TitoBoyz2491]

Thanks, fisherman i think it depends on the type of pistol, ive had mine with hermits for about a month and no problem, also he has been in there with the peps who actually reside next to the pistols burrow and they been doing excellent. I think it depends on the kind of pistol

 

[Zer0]

It does depend on which type of pistol shrimp it is. Most pistol shrimp for our hobby will not actively hunt other inverts. However, should a shrimp/crab/snail venture in to the pistol shrimps home, you can bet there will be a confrontation and most likely that invert is going to wind up getting eaten.