Cleaner Shrimp: what should it be eating to live

[yellow submarine]

My cleaner shrimp has been in my tank for two weeks and is cleaning about 3-4 fish but IS NOT getting to any of the fish food I put in daily.

> is the cleaner shrimp getting enough to eat?
> does it need to fed on the fish food to keep living? or can it live exclusively on what its picking off my fish?
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[crvz]

It should probably be getting some of the food you're putting in the tank. Do the fish eat all of it before the shrimp gets an opportunity?

[kimsie]

Originally Posted by crvz

It should probably be getting some of the food you're putting in the tank. Do the fish eat all of it before the shrimp gets an opportunity?

If this is the case - take a turkey baster and shoot some into the shrimps cave or home directly - so he can get a chance at the food too...

[Hop]

It will be fine. It finds all kinds of stuff to like in the tank. I wouldn't feed the tank any differently for a shrimp

[Hardhead Cat]

Usually my cleaner shrimp will come out when I feed mysis or frozen foods, and grabs up as much as he can. They are usually pretty easy to feed, will eat flake food, frozen food, etc.....

HHC

[tdwyatt]

These shrimp are omnivores of opportunity, they will find enough to eat, even when other fish, inverts, etc are starving. These little jewels are the best scavengers in your tank, and will on occasion (given the need) will even eat nuisance algae if push comes to shove.

[yellow submarine]

Originally Posted by crvz

It should probably be getting some of the food you're putting in the tank. Do the fish eat all of it before the shrimp gets an opportunity?

yes... by the time my fish eat, there is hardly anything left-over