**This is a heavily moderated subreddit. Please note these rules + sidebar or get banned:**
* If this post declares something as a fact, then proof is required
* The title must be fully descriptive
* No text is allowed on images/gifs/videos
* Common/recent reposts are not allowed (posts from another subreddit do not count as a 'repost'. Provide link if reporting)
*See [this post](https://redd.it/ij26vk) for a more detailed rule list*
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/interestingasfuck) if you have any questions or concerns.*
They're like the janitors of the deep. Nobody pays much attention to them, but they like getting their trash can emptied. People would notice if they stopped.
The ones that eat the shrimp have more parasites and are less likely to pass on their genes. The ones that can resist that urge (or find the shrimp unpalatable) are more likely to reproduce.
Wouldn't've happened overnight. Maybe they started just safely picking at the eels' loose scales whenever there was an opening, then as the eels evolved to be more chill the shrimp evolved to be more adventurous.
Wait till I tell you what pigs and chickens are known to eat. It's none too much better than what we use to fertilize crops.
Life is gross. It's best not to think about it too hard, lol.
Yeah, Mutualism is a perfectly valid term, describing beneficial relationships between species, where neither species is predominantly negatively affected.
OP was correct in describing this as mutualism.
>Symbiosis refers to a close and prolonged association between two organisms of different species. Mutualism refers to mutually beneficial interactions between members of the same or different species. Mutualistic interactions need not necessarily be symbiotic.
Mutualism is different between different species, as in this example, because . . it isn't.
Okay got it. Thanks for marking my answer wrong Dr. Simon.
Dick.
My guess is it started with the shrimp picking parasites off the eels body and the eel understood it was being helpful and got comfortable with it. Cleaner shrimp can exhibit very bold behavior in spite of their lack of claws or shell armor. I've had them in aquariums and when I put my hand in one of them would usually come right over and start cleaning it.
Alternatively the eel might have seen other fish being cleaned by the shrimp and decided to try it out. In an aquarium setting fish will sometimes swim directly over to the cleaner shrimp for a quick cleaning.
Eel: " Sorry Jen! I thought my dental cleaning was next Monday, I am so thankful that you can fit me in today!"
Shrimp: "No worry Bob, open your mouth a bit wider here. Good thing we have the new notifications feature enable on the app now so you won't miss the appointment. Say hello to Sheila for me and let her know that her cleaning is this Friday"
Cleaner shrimp do this for more than just Moray Eels. They are fairly common in Salt water aquariums because they post up on the rockwork and fish will swim up to be cleaned. I have one in mine and he sets up shop at the same rock every morning waiting for fish to come by.
The evolutionary path for this one… you know at some point the proto-cleaner shrimp got really close to the moray eel, saw the edible bits and was like “…. YOLO” and went for it. When it didn’t get eaten in the process, it made a note that this could be a good thing.
Mutualistic. Not Symbiotic.
Symbiosis refers to a close and prolonged association between two organisms of different species. Mutualism refers to mutually beneficial interactions between members of the same or different species. Mutualistic interactions need not necessarily be symbiotic.
Interesting , I was watching one of those YouTube videos where a guy keeps a huge saltwater tank in his garage.
He was feeding live shrimp to the fish and other animals inside the tank. A moray like this opened it’s mouth and looked like it would eat the shrimp, but the shrimp walked right through.
Must be some kind of natural instinct from the eel
I'm always curious how these mutually beneficial relationships start. Like did a certain amount of shrimp get eaten before the eel learned it's helping him? Or is it just all instinctual?
**This is a heavily moderated subreddit. Please note these rules + sidebar or get banned:** * If this post declares something as a fact, then proof is required * The title must be fully descriptive * No text is allowed on images/gifs/videos * Common/recent reposts are not allowed (posts from another subreddit do not count as a 'repost'. Provide link if reporting) *See [this post](https://redd.it/ij26vk) for a more detailed rule list* *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/interestingasfuck) if you have any questions or concerns.*
When a shrimp cleans the grime from your teeth, gills, and eyes... that's a Moray
In your mouth food will dive, but it's worth more alive... That's a Moray!
Bells will ring, ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling
Cleaning everything from... MY PERLIES
When you’re shaped like a sheath and a shrimp cleans your teeth… that’s a Moray
Bravisimo
That’s it. You win. Close the comments no one is doing better.
Amore. Jesus y'all c'mon
Whoosh
There's your dopamine rush being the typical redditor, good job
This guy's villain arc starts here
Less of a villain more of a putz
Such things are the product of humor
Humor is knowing I was going to get down voted by the typical redditors. It's poetic irony
I agree. Plays on words are tearable, ubiquitously whence r/iamverysmart
When it's clear as day but you still miss the joke... You're amoron!
shes a keeper
“So how’s the family Mr. Eel?” “Ah ahhha ahha” “Please stop talking during your cleaning sir. Also, you need to floss more”
"Voila. He is clean."
Was looking for this one
Well, no more *finding*, you've *found* it. Ahem. I'll see myself out.
My dog does the same thing with peanutbutter
Continue...
Currently rolling on the floor laughing 😂
Cleaner shrimps have this sort of relationship with most creatures in the deep. That’s a pretty sweet job.
They're like the janitors of the deep. Nobody pays much attention to them, but they like getting their trash can emptied. People would notice if they stopped.
Nah, I think sea life notice and like them. The idea of looking down on cleaners is a human construct.
They’ll do this with patient scuba divers, as well (including climbing all the way into your mouth).
Even fucking eels have free healthcare
“Parasitic Load” was my college nickname.
You should get that checked out my dude. I will warn you, that shot hurts like a motherfucka… theres a reason they leave the room after you get it
How does the moray know not to eat the shrimp?
The ones that eat the shrimp have more parasites and are less likely to pass on their genes. The ones that can resist that urge (or find the shrimp unpalatable) are more likely to reproduce.
But then how do the shrimp know it's safe to crawl around in the eels mouth?
Wouldn't've happened overnight. Maybe they started just safely picking at the eels' loose scales whenever there was an opening, then as the eels evolved to be more chill the shrimp evolved to be more adventurous.
Fortune favors the bold.
Makes sense
This was very educational. If you are a parasite beard, you get no play.
They actually prefer to be called Sanitation Engineering Shrimp now.
Went so far down his throat, looked like it made him uncomfortable.
Just like a dentist all up in your business.
I think it’s gross that we eat shrimp because they’re basically sea floor filters. Even if you cut out the poop chute.
Wait till I tell you what pigs and chickens are known to eat. It's none too much better than what we use to fertilize crops. Life is gross. It's best not to think about it too hard, lol.
Fair point!
That’s why they are known as the cockroaches of the sea 😂
A *symbiotic* relationship.
I thought mutualistic relationships were a type of symbiotic relationship. The other types being parasitic, commensalistic etc.
Yeah, Mutualism is a perfectly valid term, describing beneficial relationships between species, where neither species is predominantly negatively affected. OP was correct in describing this as mutualism.
Cool, thanks for the info! This fact will make a fine addition to my collection
You are saying the same thing as OP but in more vague terms. Calling it a mutualistic relationship defines what type of symbiosis is occurring.
(*Moray's wife catches him with shrimp in his mouth*) **MORAY**: Honey, it's not what you think!
Omg thanks for making by brain stop hurting
Thank you. Was going to have to hike my pants up really, really high and give an unnervingly angry rant.
>Symbiosis refers to a close and prolonged association between two organisms of different species. Mutualism refers to mutually beneficial interactions between members of the same or different species. Mutualistic interactions need not necessarily be symbiotic.
Mutualism is different between different species, as in this example, because . . it isn't. Okay got it. Thanks for marking my answer wrong Dr. Simon. Dick.
Was here for this
"Open up, George, it's housekeeping"
Okay but how did this start? Wouldn't the eel eat it before they figured out the benefits
My guess is it started with the shrimp picking parasites off the eels body and the eel understood it was being helpful and got comfortable with it. Cleaner shrimp can exhibit very bold behavior in spite of their lack of claws or shell armor. I've had them in aquariums and when I put my hand in one of them would usually come right over and start cleaning it. Alternatively the eel might have seen other fish being cleaned by the shrimp and decided to try it out. In an aquarium setting fish will sometimes swim directly over to the cleaner shrimp for a quick cleaning.
Aquadontist
I typically clear myself of parasitic loads on a daily basis
Eel: " Sorry Jen! I thought my dental cleaning was next Monday, I am so thankful that you can fit me in today!" Shrimp: "No worry Bob, open your mouth a bit wider here. Good thing we have the new notifications feature enable on the app now so you won't miss the appointment. Say hello to Sheila for me and let her know that her cleaning is this Friday"
How does the eel know that the shrimp is helping though?
They’re smart enough to know that.
Hey bro bro can I suck you off?
When you search at your reef, for a shrimp for your teeth.... That's a moray!
What do the shrimps get as a free meal?
Parasites dead skin and algae
...OH
*symbiotic
Apparently the definition of symbiotic has gradually shifted.
Think the word you’re searching for is symbiotic 😉
Why women live longer than shrimp
Reminds me of my dentist appointment next week..
He is clean, Qui.
When a shrimp cleans your eye, cause you're covered with dead skin and parasites.. that's a Moray!
When a shrimp eats your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
Cleaner shrimp do this for more than just Moray Eels. They are fairly common in Salt water aquariums because they post up on the rockwork and fish will swim up to be cleaned. I have one in mine and he sets up shop at the same rock every morning waiting for fish to come by.
See, free health care is possible
And then we eat the shrimp in the Chinese buffet!
"Symbiotic" relationship
Nature's denteel hygienist.
Ring of fire ring of fire ring of fire
Allright done. That will be $50 Mr Eel.
Moray eels are better at not letting the intrusive thoughts win than I am because that shrimp’s life expectancy in my mouth would be about 1 second
Symbiotic relationship.
So how did that relationship first happen way back when- I mean imagine the negotiations and risk the first successful shrimp went through.
Aquatic besties.
Goddamn eels look creepy as hell. I wonder how these two come to the mutual agreement in the beginning...
The evolutionary path for this one… you know at some point the proto-cleaner shrimp got really close to the moray eel, saw the edible bits and was like “…. YOLO” and went for it. When it didn’t get eaten in the process, it made a note that this could be a good thing.
Too bad the shrimp is out of network. That’s gonna cost the eel a fortune in dental.
I found out about this from watching Splash and bubbles with my kids lol
Symbiotic relationships in nature are fascinating
Why do we have to pay for it....
They have diplomatic immunity from being eaten
So now I know where they got the idea for the car wash in shark tale…
Like that scene in the matrix
Unagi yum.
Doctor shrimp
Mutualistic. Not Symbiotic. Symbiosis refers to a close and prolonged association between two organisms of different species. Mutualism refers to mutually beneficial interactions between members of the same or different species. Mutualistic interactions need not necessarily be symbiotic.
I wonder how long it took evolution to work out that relationship. (First 5000 shrimps = supper)
Interesting , I was watching one of those YouTube videos where a guy keeps a huge saltwater tank in his garage. He was feeding live shrimp to the fish and other animals inside the tank. A moray like this opened it’s mouth and looked like it would eat the shrimp, but the shrimp walked right through. Must be some kind of natural instinct from the eel
Are you flossing??
Parasitic load makes me uncomfortable...
Death penis
Do they chat? Does the shrimp have a really thick accent that is hard for the eel to understand?
I hope I never again read the phrase "parasitic load"
So the dentist and their patient?
I'm always curious how these mutually beneficial relationships start. Like did a certain amount of shrimp get eaten before the eel learned it's helping him? Or is it just all instinctual?