Peppermint Shrimp, I love thee!

Just gotta sing praises about these guys! Here's a little backstory...

Before setting up my 29 gallon, I bought liverock from another reefer friend of mine who was breaking down his tank. I was stoked, because he sold me a huge football-sized rock COVERED in coralline algae for $20 - AND it has a ricordea mushroom and kenya tree on it

Got it in the tank, and within the next 2-3 days, I start seeing little baby aiptasia buds popping up on the rock - EVERYWHERE. Then it dawned on me. This is the same rock he had aiptasia problems with in the past, but he got a berghia and told me everything was gone.

Apparently not.

My first reaction was to find a berghia nudi to take care of it, because the rock is porous and I wanted something that could get into the holes to the root of the aiptasia to completely eradicate it. Well, they're harder to find than I thought. So, a couple weeks had gone by and the aiptasia just kept getting bigger

So then I thought I'd just sell the piece for what I bought it for, but tell whoever would buy it that there is aiptasia on it. That didn't work, either.

Then it dawned on me while I was at my LFS two days ago - peppermints!! Duh!!! I'd used one a while ago to get rid of a few buds that hitchiked in on a frag. They're AMAZING.

So I bought two, and within two days, I can't see any buds on the rock *knocks on wood*. These guys ROCK!

I would highly suggest getting them for your tank if you have an aiptasia problem. I know a lot of people who have an aversion to using peppermints because they have a reputation for being "pickers" and are rumored to pick at some corals, like zoanthids.

My zoas were untouched. BUT, I also feed my tank, so they don't go hungry

I've also heard that peppermints won't go for aiptasia unless they are starving and that is their last resort. Again, I have to tell you, I feed my tank, and did witness the peppermints eating little bits of mysis last night (anyone else find that funny, btw, that we feed our shrimp shrimp?). And they STILL went after the aiptasia.

Hallelujah, praise the Lord! Peppermint Shrimp - you are my hero ^_^

I had about 8 of them in the past and loved to feed them and watch them eat things. I think they all have died due to age, but I wouldn't mind having more in the future. People are having good success at breeding them too.

hehe glad you found some good ones!! I've never tried them before, as, I am admittedly a shrimp murderer ....... so where are the before and after pics???

Originally Posted by estanoche

hehe glad you found some good ones!! I've never tried them before, as, I am admittedly a shrimp murderer ....... so where are the before and after pics???

I think I have a crappy-quality cell pic of the before somewhere. I'll have to edit it to make the aiptasia more apparent. And I'll take a new pic tomorrow of the rock aiptasia-free, and maybe the peppermint heros, if I can get a good one of them! They hide behind my biggest rock in the tank ALL DAY. One of them had eggs when I bought her - maybe she's laid them by now. Maybe I'll have peppermint BABIES!

Ive read that there are a few different types of peppermints and only one type that will eat aiptasia. Anyone know how to tell the difference?

Originally Posted by chris&barb

Ive read that there are a few different types of peppermints and only one type that will eat aiptasia. Anyone know how to tell the difference?

Hmm...I've never heard that before! I haven't a clue!

The species that definately eats it is Lysmata Wurdemanni. Alot of other species are sold as "peppermint shrimp". Some websites sell peppermints as "the wurdemanni complex". There is debate whether or not the other species will eat aiptasia, some say they all will, some say only the wurdemanni will. The true wurdemanni has a pale body with numerous reddish horizontal stripes running head to tail, and the legs are pale orange/reddish WITHOUT stripes.

Beware of camel shrimp. They are sometimes sold as peppermint shrimp. They have white stripes on their legs. They will eat softies and zoas, and I have personally seen stores sell them as peppermints.

Originally Posted by Variko

The species that definately eats it is Lysmata Wurdemanni. Alot of other species are sold as "peppermint shrimp". Some websites sell peppermints as "the wurdemanni complex". There is debate whether or not the other species will eat aiptasia, some say they all will, some say only the wurdemanni will. The true wurdemanni has a pale body with numerous reddish horizontal stripes running head to tail, and the legs are pale orange/reddish WITHOUT stripes.

Beware of camel shrimp. They are sometimes sold as peppermint shrimp. They have white stripes on their legs. They will eat softies and zoas, and I have personally seen stores sell them as peppermints.

The guys I have definitely look like the description you have for wurdemanni, and most definitely do NOT have white stripes on their legs (phew!).

The pepermint shrimp i have meets Varikos description. I have only had one aptasia that i have known about. it disapeared shortly after I put the shrimp in the tank. So I guess I can say it has done it job. I have not seen any since. These guys eat a variety of things in the tank though. Mine will eat bristle worms,algea even seen it eat other inverts moltings and just about anything i give it to eat.

Originally Posted by icsd71

The pepermint shrimp i have meets Varikos description. I have only had one aptasia that i have known about. it disapeared shortly after I put the shrimp in the tank. So I guess I can say it has done it job. I have not seen any since. These guys eat a variety of things in the tank though. Mine will eat bristle worms,algea even seen it eat other inverts moltings and just about anything i give it to eat.

They are great little cleaners! A must for every tank, in my opinion

I agree I wish I had some still. They will clean up after anything!