Do blood shrimp or pepermint shrimp eat aptasia?

mosesbrown · 02/04/2007, 09:53 PM

I want a non evasive method of killing them off w/o introducing toxics to the tank. A cool animal to control them would be a win/win for me and the shrimp. What do you know?

NickInMiami · 02/04/2007, 09:55 PM

I remember reading that Peppermint shrimp do.

mosesbrown · 02/04/2007, 09:58 PM

I think that is what I remembered as well. I have heard that they can eat other soft corals as well. Has anyone else dealt with this problem? Are there any other animals that can eat apasia that would be better?

motlot77 · 02/04/2007, 10:05 PM

i bought a peppermint the other day to munch on my aptasia. it's been in my tank for 3 days now and hasn't even looked at my aptasia.

bertoni · 02/04/2007, 10:08 PM

Some peppermint shrimp eat Aiptasia. Some don't. This thread discusses Aiptasia control:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=803632

SgJsg35 · 02/05/2007, 08:36 AM

Some butterfly fish will eat aiptasia copperbanded and raccoon come to mind, I think the raccoon will also eat corals and desirable anemones though.

Poorcollegereef · 02/05/2007, 09:43 AM

The link bertoni provided is a good read. To make it fairly simple, there are two different types of shrimp commonly referred to as a "peppermint shrimp" One type is from the atlantic, the other is from the pacific. Right off the top of my head, I don't remember which is the better pest eater but one should also worry about fish that eat shrimp before adding a pest controling shrimp or it will be the most expensive meal a 6-line could eat outside of a Red Lobster.

Personally, my old peppermint cleaned up the aiptasia in less than a week with absolutely no reoccuring problems. Guess I was lucky. =D

SgJsg35 · 02/05/2007, 12:16 PM

Lysmata wurdemanni are the aiptasia eating peppermint.

tedmc2 · 02/05/2007, 12:31 PM

I've had good luck with peppermint shrimp eating aiptasia.

brandonst878 · 02/05/2007, 01:26 PM

I guess I too was "lucky". My peppermint shrimp ate my aptasia right away. I usually get pounced on by nay sayers when I suggest them, but I can tell you that they worked for me. If they don't, just return them for credit. It's worth a shot at not fumbling around the tank with a syringe. Just my two cents.

Brandon M · 02/05/2007, 01:39 PM

I bought some Peppermint shrimp to get rid of my aiptasia. I've had them for around 8 months and they did not eat it. I ended up taking the rock out and pouring boiling water on the section, worked like a charm.

02/04/2007, 09:53 PM	#1
mosesbrown Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 165	Do blood shrimp or pepermint shrimp eat aptasia? I want a non evasive method of killing them off w/o introducing toxics to the tank. A cool animal to control them would be a win/win for me and the shrimp. What do you know?

02/04/2007, 09:58 PM	#3
mosesbrown Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 165	I think that is what I remembered as well. I have heard that they can eat other soft corals as well. Has anyone else dealt with this problem? Are there any other animals that can eat apasia that would be better? __________________ "I just want to be loved is that so wrong" -John Lovitz Current Tank Info: 75 Gallon Reef; Leather Coral, Xenia, Star Polyps, Button Polyps, Mushrooms, Tounge Coral. Clown, Six Line Wrasse, Chromis, Clnr Shrimp Peppermint Shrimp, Sand Sifting Star, Misc Snails & Hermits.

02/04/2007, 10:05 PM	#4
motlot77 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: bay area Posts: 355	i bought a peppermint the other day to munch on my aptasia. it's been in my tank for 3 days now and hasn't even looked at my aptasia. __________________ "I don't trust or love anyone. Because people are so creepy. Creepy creepy creeps. Creeping around. Creeping here and creeping there. Creeping everywhere. Crippity crappity creepies." Current Tank Info: 25 gal tall, 2 x 65w pc, aqua c remora hob skimmer, fluval for flow and carbon

02/04/2007, 10:08 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Some peppermint shrimp eat Aiptasia. Some don't. This thread discusses Aiptasia control: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...hreadid=803632 __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/05/2007, 08:36 AM	#6
SgJsg35 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Steeler Country Posts: 218	Some butterfly fish will eat aiptasia copperbanded and raccoon come to mind, I think the raccoon will also eat corals and desirable anemones though. __________________ hadooun haqil khairun min sadiqin jaahil Current Tank Info: 50 gal.(50-60lbs LR) Eibl's Angelfish,Sixline Wrasse,Lunare Wrasse,Orchid Dottyback,Blacktail Dascyllus,Neon Goby,Banded Coral Shrimp,Emerald Crab,a few Snails & Hermits

02/04/2007, 09:55 PM	#2
NickInMiami Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Miami Lakes, FL Posts: 105	I remember reading that Peppermint shrimp do.

02/05/2007, 09:43 AM	#7
Poorcollegereef Future Doc Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: DC Posts: 961	The link bertoni provided is a good read. To make it fairly simple, there are two different types of shrimp commonly referred to as a "peppermint shrimp" One type is from the atlantic, the other is from the pacific. Right off the top of my head, I don't remember which is the better pest eater but one should also worry about fish that eat shrimp before adding a pest controling shrimp or it will be the most expensive meal a 6-line could eat outside of a Red Lobster. Personally, my old peppermint cleaned up the aiptasia in less than a week with absolutely no reoccuring problems. Guess I was lucky. =D

02/05/2007, 12:16 PM	#8
SgJsg35 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Steeler Country Posts: 218	Lysmata wurdemanni are the aiptasia eating peppermint. __________________ hadooun haqil khairun min sadiqin jaahil Current Tank Info: 50 gal.(50-60lbs LR) Eibl's Angelfish,Sixline Wrasse,Lunare Wrasse,Orchid Dottyback,Blacktail Dascyllus,Neon Goby,Banded Coral Shrimp,Emerald Crab,a few Snails & Hermits

02/05/2007, 12:31 PM	#9
tedmc2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 384	I've had good luck with peppermint shrimp eating aiptasia. __________________ In a world gone mad, only a lunatic’s truly insane - Homer Simpson Current Tank Info: 18" cube, 12" cube, ADA MINI-S

02/05/2007, 01:26 PM	#10
brandonst878 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 196	I guess I too was "lucky". My peppermint shrimp ate my aptasia right away. I usually get pounced on by nay sayers when I suggest them, but I can tell you that they worked for me. If they don't, just return them for credit. It's worth a shot at not fumbling around the tank with a syringe. Just my two cents.

02/05/2007, 01:39 PM	#11
Brandon M Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,116	I bought some Peppermint shrimp to get rid of my aiptasia. I've had them for around 8 months and they did not eat it. I ended up taking the rock out and pouring boiling water on the section, worked like a charm. __________________ Brandon Current Tank Info: 315g 84"x24"x36" FOWLR