Cleaner Shrimp
Description
of the Cleaner Shrimp
The Cleaner Shrimp is also known as the Northern cleaner shrimp,
Skunk cleaner shrimp, Pacific cleaner shrimp and Scarlet cleaner
shrimp and has a mutual symbiotic relationship with fish. It
removes parasites for the fish which in turn provides a valuable
food source for the shrimp. Cleaner shrimps usually congregate
at 'cleaning stations' on the reef waiting for fish affected by
parasites to simply turn up and have their parasites removed!
Profile of
the Cleaner Shrimp
This
Profile contains interesting facts and information about the
Cleaner Shrimp species.
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Diet / Feeding:
Parasites and dead tissue
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Temperament:
Good addition to a community tank, they will clean the tank
and the fish!
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Habitat: Reef
dwellers, marine
waters
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Behaviour:
Symbiotic relationship with fish, removes their parasites
Scientific
Classification of the Cleaner Shrimp
Definition: Scientific
classification, or biological classification, is how biologists
group and categorize species of organisms with shared physical
characteristics. Scientific classification belongs to the
science of taxonomy.
Interesting Facts and Information -
How do you identify
the sex of a Cleaner Shrimp?
The males and females of many fish species have different colors
or different shaped bodies. But there are also other fish
species where there is no visible difference. Its sometimes
tricky being an ichthyologist!
Interesting Facts and Information -
Why do Cleaner Shrimp have gills?
Gills enable the Cleaner Shrimp to breathe. Gills consist of thin
sheets of tissue containing blood vessels. As water passes over
the gills oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream Carbon
dioxide passes out into the water. The gills are protected by a
large bony plate called an operculum. Some fish species however
have lungs and breathe air.
Interesting Facts and Information -
Why is the Cleaner Shrimp called an Arthropod?
An Arthropod is an invertebrate
animal (without a backbone) that has a segmented body with
jointed limbs (appendages). True crabs are Decapod
Crustaceans. Some species such as
Hermit crabs, Porcelain crabs King crabs and Horseshoe crabs are
not true crabs! Decapod Crustaceans have five pairs of
legs, the first three are used for feeding. At the end of the
limbs are the chelae which is the correct term for pincers or
claws.
Interesting Facts and Information about
Cleaner Shrimp
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