Peppermint shrimp eating torch coral - common?

Hayek · 01/24/2010, 04:31 AM

I recently added a torch coral (Euphyllia Glabrescens) to my reef tank. Within five minutes, my peppermint shrimp came out of his nearby den and went to town. I scared him before he did too much damage, but he has since eaten almost an entire branch worth.

Is this common? I'm aware camelback shrimp are often pests, and I am unsure whether or not it is a camelback, but I have have kept many other species of coral with no problem whatsoever. The shrimp did, however, clear my tank of aiptasia.

roblack · 01/24/2010, 12:56 PM

Have heard this story a zillion times. Despite what some will say, peppermints (all varieties) and cleaner shrimp can easily make the jump to eating lps. Eviction time, or get a trigger or hawkfish to do your dirty work for you.

Venezzo · 01/24/2010, 01:29 PM

I had 2 Lysmata Seticaudata (Mediterranean) and 1 Lysmata Wundermany ad they liked my Trachyphyllia...

That was enouhg to take thme out of the aquarium...

cjj14u · 01/24/2010, 03:37 PM

I had some nasty pepps as well... and the WERE peppermints not camelbacks....

snorkeler · 01/24/2010, 06:51 PM

This was my story: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1756598

Interesting enough, a few weeks later I added a new one (hammer coral), and before doing do I fed the tank/shrimp, and it (the shrimp) didn't attack my hammer. So far, so good. I did try to capture it, with no success.... part of that story you can read in the blog link below.

Snorkeler

Hayek · 01/25/2010, 09:23 AM

Thank you for the responses. I've moved the torch coral to the other side of the tank, but I have a feeling the peppermint shrimp will discover it before long. I've been trying to catch him with a coke bottle, but haven't had success. I think I'm going to start target feeding the peppermint.

reef4dan · 01/25/2010, 12:17 PM

targeting the pepper will help but probably will not stop the behavior completely. mine never ate the corals but instead tore into the mouths and to get at the food my corals just ingested. i saw my peppers do this to my rics too many times and just said "screw it." IMO, all shrimp will do this to some degree -peppers are just a little more savage

01/24/2010, 04:31 AM	#1
Hayek Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Morgantown, WV Posts: 19	Peppermint shrimp eating torch coral - common? I recently added a torch coral (Euphyllia Glabrescens) to my reef tank. Within five minutes, my peppermint shrimp came out of his nearby den and went to town. I scared him before he did too much damage, but he has since eaten almost an entire branch worth. Is this common? I'm aware camelback shrimp are often pests, and I am unsure whether or not it is a camelback, but I have have kept many other species of coral with no problem whatsoever. The shrimp did, however, clear my tank of aiptasia.

01/24/2010, 01:29 PM	#3
Venezzo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Barcelona Posts: 7	I had 2 Lysmata Seticaudata (Mediterranean) and 1 Lysmata Wundermany ad they liked my Trachyphyllia... That was enouhg to take thme out of the aquarium... __________________ I'll show u my tank A.S.A.P. Current Tank Info: 510L

01/24/2010, 06:51 PM	#5
snorkeler Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Brazil Posts: 250	This was my story: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1756598 Interesting enough, a few weeks later I added a new one (hammer coral), and before doing do I fed the tank/shrimp, and it (the shrimp) didn't attack my hammer. So far, so good. I did try to capture it, with no success.... part of that story you can read in the blog link below. Snorkeler __________________ Tank: 180L (46gal) 60cm cube DT visible from all sides with central overflow column, 10cm crushed coral base, LR, 79L (20gal) sump with skimmer, ATS and refugium. External jerrican DIY ATO. Livestoc

01/24/2010, 12:56 PM	#2
roblack Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Miami Beach Posts: 3,094	Have heard this story a zillion times. Despite what some will say, peppermints (all varieties) and cleaner shrimp can easily make the jump to eating lps. Eviction time, or get a trigger or hawkfish to do your dirty work for you.

01/24/2010, 03:37 PM	#4
cjj14u Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Knoxville, TN Posts: 147	I had some nasty pepps as well... and the WERE peppermints not camelbacks....

01/25/2010, 09:23 AM	#6
Hayek Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Morgantown, WV Posts: 19	Thank you for the responses. I've moved the torch coral to the other side of the tank, but I have a feeling the peppermint shrimp will discover it before long. I've been trying to catch him with a coke bottle, but haven't had success. I think I'm going to start target feeding the peppermint.

01/25/2010, 12:17 PM	#7
reef4dan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: san jose, ca Posts: 9	targeting the pepper will help but probably will not stop the behavior completely. mine never ate the corals but instead tore into the mouths and to get at the food my corals just ingested. i saw my peppers do this to my rics too many times and just said "screw it." IMO, all shrimp will do this to some degree -peppers are just a little more savage