Reef companions: Do you have fish that interact with your invertebrates?

[Peace River]

Reef companions: Do you have fish that interact with your invertebrates?

Sometimes it is a symbiotic relationship like a goby and a pistol shrimp where they share their strengths. Other times it may be a cleaner shrimp providing services for the fish in the tank. To me, any times to creatures work together to a common goal it is fascinating. Of course, it may not necessarily be working together but rather it is still some type of action and response (even aggression) that occurs with some level of regularity. Whether it for a combined purpose or engaging with each other, do you have fish that interact with your invertebrates? If so, we’d love to see pictures and to hear more about the relationship!

Photo by @FishSticks05


This QOTD is sponsored by Nutramar: https://www.qualitymarine.com/nutramar/

“Nutramar’s 100% natural food products are used by public aquaria and breeders around the world. They offer superior nutrition to your most finicky and delicate fish and invertebrates.

 

[lapin]

My angel comes to where my fire shrimp hangs out. It likes to be groomed 2 to 3 times a day.

 

[kevgib67]

My diamond goby is the only fish in my tank that allows my two skunk cleaner shrimp to clean him. My tuxedo urchin occasionally acts like an Uber and gives a live snail around the tank until I remove it.

 

[i cant think]

Reef companions: Do you have fish that interact with your invertebrates?

Sometimes it is a symbiotic relationship like a goby and a pistol shrimp where they share their strengths. Other times it may be a cleaner shrimp providing services for the fish in the tank. To me, any times to creatures work together to a common goal it is fascinating. Of course, it may not necessarily be working together but rather it is still some type of action and response (even aggression) that occurs with some level of regularity. Whether it for a combined purpose or engaging with each other, do you have fish that interact with your invertebrates? If so, we’d love to see pictures and to hear more about the relationship!

Photo by @FishSticks05


This QOTD is sponsored by Nutramar: https://www.qualitymarine.com/nutramar/

“Nutramar’s 100% natural food products are used by public aquaria and breeders around the world. They offer superior nutrition to your most finicky and delicate fish and invertebrates.

In my nano I have a pistol shrimp, goby pair.

In my 4’ tank I have a fish who turns over snails to munch them and cleaner shrimp who love cleaning everything!

 

[littlehermit0]

I think my clownfish killed my peppermint shrimp, he died randomly but the clowns were just looking at him and biting him I think

 

[Jeremy_d]

Pistol shrimp and goby pair interact, but my royal gramma also will pick up the smaller hermits and take them to the other side of the tank and my emerald crab likes to yeet nassarius snails when they get close

 

[Gtinnel]

Does eating them count as interacting with them?

 

[Mperry622]

My lunar wrasse likes picking up my huge emerald crab.. I swear he tries taking him to a rock and cracking him against it

 

[Biokabe]

My melanarus loves interacting with anything crablike. Of course, his interactions tend to not be appreciated by the invert. He's just playing with them, honest!

I choose to overlook the crab pieces I sometimes see. Probably just molts. Definitely not evidence of a mid-day snack.

 

[Homestarmy]

I have a Hi Fin Goby and a Randalls Pistol Shrimp that have buddies up under some rock. Hardly see either, other than the occasional shift in the surrounding substrate. Also have a Blood Red Shrimp that desperately wants to clean my Bristletooth who wants nothing to do with the shrimp!

 

[Floyd-]

The only inverts I have are snails and my fish dont even give them a second look.

 

[reefermadnes5]

The tiger pistol watchman combo is so cute! One of my favorite parts of my tank.

 

[shakacuz]

not a fish, but i have a red porcelain/anemone crab that hosts my CSBTA

previously had a yasha goby paired with a randall's pistol shrimp. but the yasha perished. currently the pistol is alone, but i do plan on getting a randall's goby to hopefully pair it with.

 

[NoobishReefer22]

My fire shrimp cleans my hippo tang and sailfin tang all the time. It looks so cool my fire shrimp has setup his own small cleaning cave.

 

[SnazzyUrchin792]

Does my valentini pufferfish eating my cuc count? I also have a shrimp/goby pair and a cleaner shrimp.

 

[Alexraptor]

Don't have a good picture, but I have a YWG female and a Tiger pistol shrimp, whom I've affectionately named "Bonnie & Clyde", due to their proclivity for stealing anything that isn't glued down! Including living hermit crabs!!!

 

[reefermadnes5]

Don't have a good picture, but I have a YWG female and a Tiger pistol shrimp, whom I've affectionately named "Bonnie & Clyde", due to their proclivity for stealing anything that isn't glued down! Including living hermit crabs!!!

My pistol relocates my macro all the time. Took a mermaid fan and made it a part of his dwelling.

 

[Jeremy_d]

Don't have a good picture, but I have a YWG female and a Tiger pistol shrimp, whom I've affectionately named "Bonnie & Clyde", due to their proclivity for stealing anything that isn't glued down! Including living hermit crabs!!!

My hermit crabs crawl down into the cave entrances all the time, then I hear the snaps and cracks of world war reef haha

 

[Reef Puncher]

The tiger pistol watchman combo is so cute! One of my favorite parts of my tank.

mine are paired under in a little cave. its so funny how they interact and how they paired instantly. its like, how do they know they will be best friends?

 

[HaiFish]

Reef companions: Do you have fish that interact with your invertebrates?

Sometimes it is a symbiotic relationship like a goby and a pistol shrimp where they share their strengths. Other times it may be a cleaner shrimp providing services for the fish in the tank. To me, any times to creatures work together to a common goal it is fascinating. Of course, it may not necessarily be working together but rather it is still some type of action and response (even aggression) that occurs with some level of regularity. Whether it for a combined purpose or engaging with each other, do you have fish that interact with your invertebrates? If so, we’d love to see pictures and to hear more about the relationship!

Photo by @FishSticks05


This QOTD is sponsored by Nutramar: https://www.qualitymarine.com/nutramar/

“Nutramar’s 100% natural food products are used by public aquaria and breeders around the world. They offer superior nutrition to your most finicky and delicate fish and invertebrates.

My goby loves eating my Hermits! Such a cute relationship!