Noob move!

[LovinDaReef]

I went out and bought a shrimp for my tank. It was labeled as a peppermint shrimp, but upon studying the shrimp, it's is a camelback.

Do camelback eat mushrooms or disturb it at all? The store said they don't take retuns, even though they sold me a mis-labeled shrrimp (partly my fault for being noob). Should I just keep the shrimp? I also have some green mushrooms (very small).


What can be kept with camelback shrimps? Or what shrimp eats the camelback but leaves reef alone?

[papagimp]

Camelbacks won't fair as well in a reef climate. Their a colder water species. Not sure on what they'll eat or not but most/all shrimps are polyps nippers and somewhat opportunistic. Never really had this be an issue with any I've had but some won't use them in a system at all for these reasons. I don't like them being in a tank with a deep sand bed due to some of the little sandbed thriving infauna that they'll likely sample.

If the store sold it to you as a peppermint and it's obviously not a peppermint, I"d imagine they'd be required by law to give you the item you purchased. Go in the store and throw a fit on em. It's their fault after all, they sold you the wrong species (which I find to be common in alot of LFS, some employees just aren't as knowledgeable as you'd think they should be)

[LovinDaReef]

What if they claim I have a peppermint. He could just simply claim I have the peppermint, and not give me a true peppermint.

[taillonjohn]

I've had a camelback for about a year now. Since then, its eaten my 2 peppermint shrimps, eaten my zoa colony. Hasent touched any other corals. I only see it about once a week, for a few seconds

It is one of the much less interesting shrimps in my opinion

[LovinDaReef]

I am starting to get angry that they sold me the camelback, knowing I was starting a reef tank.

[taillonjohn]

Originally posted by LovinDaReef
What if they claim I have a peppermint. He could just simply claim I have the peppermint, and not give me a true peppermint.

Google images of both.... once you compare, you will see that there is no mistaking the two, once you know the difference. If you know its a camel, no one can say its a peppermint

[LovinDaReef]

I know, but I can't bring the internet to the store, and the people there could easily just say it's a peppermint, it is THEIR store.

[papagimp]

If they claim you have a peppermint, go grab a book of their shelve and prove em wrong. I'm not saying they'll do right by ya but at least give it a good try, throw a fit in a store full of customers when their busy, yelling about why they won't take back a specimen that was sold under a false name. I find that technique works most the time. And by the way, I really don't condone treating fish stores in this manner, but when they refuse to help with something they messed up....I get a little perturbed. I've had many similar arguments that I did not win over purchases that were DOA before I could get them 5 miles up the road and similar messes. Any respectable fish store will treat you right and correct the issue. You're not asking for a return after all, just the right product. If they still refuse to help, either find an alternative fish store in he area or let em know you'll get your stock online from now on, in any case, don't give them your business if their going to treat you as such. Just be sure to speak to whomever is in charge, don't get a grunt employee or they'll most likely just reiterate store policy to you since that's what they know.

for what it's worth, any respectable fish store can/will be able to differentiate between a peppermint and a camelback. If they can't, probably not a place you'd want to support anyways.

[taillonjohn]

Originally posted by LovinDaReef
I know, but I can't bring the internet to the store, and the people there could easily just say it's a peppermint, it is THEIR store.

haha, you need to get more muscle....
you were sold the wrong species. Kinda like paying for a pitbull, but being given a labrador instead, and then when you try to return the labrador, they tell you it is a pitbull.

It is THEIR store, but it is also YOUR money, and you didnt get what you paid for

Bottom line, is, that this is a super expensive hobby, and it sucks to get ripped off like that. Your shrimp probably cost you $15, but you will spend thousands in this hobby if you keep it up. This is something your LFS should understand

[LovinDaReef]

I called them, they owner is not in. I know I have a camelback, researched many pictures. I'm not sure they will have any books that will show them it is a camelback. Plus, they do not speak the most fluent english. If they don't return my fish, I guess I will loudly voice my opinion and leave the shrimp there.

[Shaummy]

Got access to a printer? Print out a picture of each...

[LovinDaReef]

No printer, haven't needed one in a long time...

[seapug]

Wow, I usually side with the store in "buyer's remorse" situations, but if they sold you "A" but it's actually "B" then they should take it back no question. Hard to believe they are willing to sacrifice a potential long term customer over a crappy $10 shrimp they had mislabeled. The fact that you've even had this debate with them would make me vow never to spend another penny there.

[LovinDaReef]

I talked to the owner, he said he will replace the shrimp with a cleaner shrimp. So I guess it's all good now. He said he was sorry for the mislabeled shrimp, and that he would talk to his supplier and employees who labeled the shrimp. Anyways, I guess I will pick a normal skunk cleaner shrimp (yellow and red). Those are good I suppose.

[LovinDaReef]

Picked up the cleaner shrimp today, doing very well. Saw it eating something in the sandbed, looked like brown algae, and also eating in light, not dark like the camelback I just returned.