Coral Hind August 3, 2009 August 3, 2009 Are there any large grouper keepers out there that have a cleaner shrimp in the same tank. I have a 9" Cephalopholis miniata and I was thinking of adding a skunk cleaner to the tank. I know that groupers visit cleaning stations in the wild but I hope it would not just see the new cleaner as a food source. I am only looking for feedback from those that actually currently have or have tried this combination.
davelin315 August 3, 2009 August 3, 2009 I think it would be a mistake. They are so accustomed to eating anything that is added to the tank that I think it would snap up the cleaner without pause. I had an ocellaris eat a cleaner shrimp that I introduced to the tank before. If you are to try this, I would have the shrimp in first and then add the grouper afterwards - kind of like angels that will eat new clams in a tank but not established ones. Either that, or place it in a separate container so that the grouper gets used to seeing it. I had a miniatus grouper before that I wanted to try it with, too, but I opted to not do it as it would hit anything the second it hit the water. Also, I don't think that you could get the cleaner to set up shop the same way it would in nature. I know that they will do it, but it's harder to duplicate a cleaning station in home aquaria.
Coral Hind August 10, 2009 Author August 10, 2009 Well, so far so good. It has been 24 hours and they are getting along just fine. I actually feel sorry for the cleaner shrimp since the Grouper will not leave it alone. Where ever the shrimp goes the grouper goes too and it will lay down next to the shrimp, mouth open, just begging to get cleaned.
L8 2 RISE August 10, 2009 August 10, 2009 That's really cool, and pretty funny. He's luring the shrimp in, lol.
GaryL August 10, 2009 August 10, 2009 maybe the grouper is a hypochondriac and think it needs all these unnecessary dr visits from the cleaner. awesome i'm glad it worked out.
DJBoy98 August 10, 2009 August 10, 2009 How big is your tank? I assume you can't keep any fish that can fit inside it's mouth right?
Coral Hind August 10, 2009 Author August 10, 2009 The tank is a 120g AGA which I use as a frag tank. Yes, any fish that can fit into his mouth will end up as dinner. It is a very peaceful fish if kept with larger fish. He does not bother any of the corals or inverts like brittle stars, snails, emerald and hemit crabs, and now added to that list, cleaner shrimp.
Jan August 10, 2009 August 10, 2009 Well, so far so good. It has been 24 hours and they are getting along just fine. I actually feel sorry for the cleaner shrimp since the Grouper will not leave it alone. Where ever the shrimp goes the grouper goes too and it will lay down next to the shrimp, mouth open, just begging to get cleaned. Very cool!
Stu August 10, 2009 August 10, 2009 That's awesome! Did you put it in a specimen container or something first, or just dump it in? I've seen 2 cleaner shrimp and 2 neon cleaner gobies on a 4ft. grouper diving in the Keys, all cleaning its gills and mouth at the same time. It cracks me up how they just turn off their predatory instincts for a few minutes. It's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
extreme_tooth_decay August 10, 2009 August 10, 2009 Very cool. I had a cleaner in with a shark for a while. The cleaner was half inside the shark's mouth several times and was never attacked. The only thing I ever fed that shark was shrimp, too. And he would often bite me.
Coral Hind August 10, 2009 Author August 10, 2009 That's awesome! Did you put it in a specimen container or something first, or just dump it in? I've seen 2 cleaner shrimp and 2 neon cleaner gobies on a 4ft. grouper diving in the Keys, all cleaning its gills and mouth at the same time. It cracks me up how they just turn off their predatory instincts for a few minutes. It's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I just dumped it in after I got home from Fins & Feathers. I just checked on them and all is fine.
epleeds August 10, 2009 August 10, 2009 a 120 as a frag tank....thats awesome....how big is the main display The tank is a 120g AGA which I use as a frag tank.
L8 2 RISE August 10, 2009 August 10, 2009 How are groupers with other groupers? The school may be getting a 120 or similarly large tank this year for oceanography and I would really like to get a or some groupers for it.
Coral Hind August 10, 2009 Author August 10, 2009 a 120 as a frag tank....thats awesome....how big is the main display It is a 120 also, just in another room.
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