Are Peppermint shrimp okay in a reef?

das75 · 11/21/2006, 12:29 AM

Fighting a battle with aiptasia. Got most of the big ones but still seeing lots of little guys.

Considering adding two peppermint shrimp and have seen some negative comments in the references.

Looking for real life experiences/opinions, once the aiptasia are gone can I expect problems with the shrimp to-wards my corals?

lessthanlights · 11/21/2006, 12:54 AM

never had a problem with mine and he never ate a single aiptasia. i think it's hit or miss if you get an aiptasia lover or not.

Blown 346 · 11/21/2006, 04:58 AM

I agree, I have owned over 12 pep shrimps and not one touched Aipstasia.
If you are going to get some they do best in large groups.

Krazy · 11/21/2006, 05:56 AM

I have a aiptasia lover then

My peppermint in my nano loves them, takes him a day or two but they are gone after that, I've been taking rock out my 90 for him to "clean" then return em to my 90 display

jedi31 · 11/21/2006, 10:39 AM

I had two Peppermint Shrimps in my 90 gallon. I bought them very small when I first set this tank up. There were some aiptasia when I bought them and the next day the aiptaisa were gone. But a few months later the Peppermints were gone because they would nip at my corals at night. You can see them nipping flesh. One of them grew huge and it was a PITA to take out. They are very smart and I had to set up a trap for them. I would never put these things in a reef tank again. Just my experience.

BrentN · 11/21/2006, 12:29 PM

Make sure they are pep's and not camel-backs. I understand the camel-backs are not so reef-friendly.

xinumaster · 11/21/2006, 12:32 PM

I got one and it kept aiptasia in check.

mcrist · 11/21/2006, 12:42 PM

I have had them in my tank over the years and never had one attack anything that I wanted to keep. They did always seem to disappear from my tanks, though. Now camel shrimp are another story.

Radiography14 · 11/21/2006, 12:57 PM

some people use joes juice , or draw xtra calcium in a syringe and inject it. For some strange reason i think aptasia have a nack for plastic..then have a tendency to move in the night. wierd eh?

Asuran · 11/21/2006, 02:09 PM

i have 3 in my 70 and 3 in my 180 the aiptasia in the 70 are gone but in the 180 they are still around...

11/21/2006, 12:29 AM	#1
das75 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmonton AB Posts: 2,269	Are Peppermint shrimp okay in a reef? Fighting a battle with aiptasia. Got most of the big ones but still seeing lots of little guys. Considering adding two peppermint shrimp and have seen some negative comments in the references. Looking for real life experiences/opinions, once the aiptasia are gone can I expect problems with the shrimp to-wards my corals?

11/21/2006, 12:29 PM	#6
BrentN Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Kelso, WA Posts: 277	Make sure they are pep's and not camel-backs. I understand the camel-backs are not so reef-friendly. __________________ -Gravity Powered, Air Cooled- Current Tank Info: 55 aga, 20 gal sump, 4x54 t-5, O.R. 3500 return, liter meter 3, msx 160

11/21/2006, 12:32 PM	#7
xinumaster reef addict Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: sj ca Posts: 2,925	I got one and it kept aiptasia in check. __________________ -perry/xinumaster Current Tank Info: 375g tank 8'x30"x30"

11/21/2006, 02:09 PM	#10
Asuran Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Scarborough Posts: 504	i have 3 in my 70 and 3 in my 180 the aiptasia in the 70 are gone but in the 180 they are still around... __________________ 180gallon reef, 70gallon sump 110gallon reef, 50 gallon sump (former tank) 70gallon FOWLR, 30 gallon sump

11/21/2006, 12:54 AM	#2
lessthanlights Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Duluth, MN Posts: 606	never had a problem with mine and he never ate a single aiptasia. i think it's hit or miss if you get an aiptasia lover or not.

11/21/2006, 04:58 AM	#3
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	I agree, I have owned over 12 pep shrimps and not one touched Aipstasia. If you are going to get some they do best in large groups.

11/21/2006, 05:56 AM	#4
Krazy Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 2,941	I have a aiptasia lover then My peppermint in my nano loves them, takes him a day or two but they are gone after that, I've been taking rock out my 90 for him to "clean" then return em to my 90 display

11/21/2006, 10:39 AM	#5
jedi31 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: PA Posts: 173	I had two Peppermint Shrimps in my 90 gallon. I bought them very small when I first set this tank up. There were some aiptasia when I bought them and the next day the aiptaisa were gone. But a few months later the Peppermints were gone because they would nip at my corals at night. You can see them nipping flesh. One of them grew huge and it was a PITA to take out. They are very smart and I had to set up a trap for them. I would never put these things in a reef tank again. Just my experience.

11/21/2006, 12:42 PM	#8
mcrist Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Posts: 1,598	I have had them in my tank over the years and never had one attack anything that I wanted to keep. They did always seem to disappear from my tanks, though. Now camel shrimp are another story.

11/21/2006, 12:57 PM	#9
Radiography14 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Portland,Maine Posts: 299	some people use joes juice , or draw xtra calcium in a syringe and inject it. For some strange reason i think aptasia have a nack for plastic..then have a tendency to move in the night. wierd eh?