Peppermint Shrimp

[Reefkeeper]

I have come to the conclusion that my 2 peppermint shrimps may be doing more harm then good in my tank. I originally put them in as I thought I had some aptasia and figured that for the most part they are considered benign. Unfortunately, it turned out that the anenomes in my tanks are not aptasia and seem to be outside of their chosen food.

Since they were attractive and active I figured I would just keep them in the tank so long as they did not become a problem. I happened to notice that they were occassionally going onto/after some of my xenia. I had also noticed that I have not seen my feather dusters nor a bunch of the smaller inverebrate inhabitants. (all the parameters for the tank are perfect Am, Nitrite - 0, Nitrate <5ppm, ph 8.2, 1.023)

I had also notice that they were occasionally causing my Kenya tree to pull itself in whenever they would get near it. (curious behavior but not exactly damning). This afternoon I found the 2 of them both perched on top of the green star polyps. They had been out continuously since put in the tank, until today after the shrimps being there. The polyps had not reacted that way to any of the other animals being near/on it in the past, so I feel that they were definitely harrassing them.

Thus, I either have to figure out a way to prevent them from annoying the other inhabitants (yeah, thats not going to happen) or remove them from the tank. I know other people have occassionally had issues with peppermints before, but has anyone had any luck in reforming their behavior?

I guess I am going to have to make a decision in the next few days about the fate of the shrimp.

[phishphood]

Not exactly sure what to tell you. Yes, some people have had problems w/ peps in their tanks. But then again, I took one of Dakota's that was a harasser and it's been fine in my tank, maybe stealing a bit of food from my candycanes, but that's about it. However, they do sometimes climb all over any lps/softie I have in my tank. They have caused my xenia to close up for a bit, but nothing serious. And they'll walk all over my zoos, but nothing seems to have come of that. If in the end you decide you don't want them, there's always room in my tank.

One good thing about them though....if you have 2+, then you get free plankton every now and then

[pk-sd]

Originally posted by phishphood
........
One good thing about them though....if you have 2+, then you get free plankton every now and then

Can you expand on that ??

[Kee]

Well when one peppermint shrimp is attracted to another peppermint shrimp, they give each other a "special hug" and babbies are made. Consult your parents or porno for more information. :D

[pk-sd]

Originally posted by Kee
Well when one peppermint shrimp is attracted to another peppermint shrimp, they give each other a "special hug" and babbies are made. Consult your parents or porno for more information. :D


LMAO:D

I asked for it !!!

[Dannyboy]

Well when one peppermint shrimp is attracted to another peppermint shrimp, they give each other a "special hug" and babbies are made. Consult your parents or porno for more information. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

[pk-sd]

I think it looks something like this ???

http://www.ucs.louisiana.edu/~rtb6933/shrimp/lysmata_females.jpg

[phishphood]

LMAO ....Kee...I couldn't have said it better myself

[Reefkeeper]

Well I temporarily cordoned off the one coral (its in the tank but has a plastic "moat" around it. The shrimp cant just walk up to it and would have to swim up and in to get to the coral. This way I can see if they truly are going after it.

[Reefkeeper]

Well, I picked up some more GSP yesterday as well as a few other corals. Last night, after the lights were off my wife was looking at the tank, sure enough one of the peppermints had descended on the new GSP. Since the other GSP has not really seemed to come out since what I will dub Attack of the Shrimp 1, I am pretty certain that they are going after the GSP for some reason. To protect it, I put it into a cup which is submerged in the tank.

Today, its all out which is good, but I am still torn on what to do. I doubt I can get the peppermints out unless I basically rip up the rock. I guess I could just try to trap them, but I am still unsure why they are going after the GSP. They are well fed (damn pigs in fact) and seem to not bother any other corals (2 types of xenia, kenya tree, hairy mushroom, rough mushroom, or the unknown anenomes that they were put in there to take care of.)

Anyone have any ideas on this? If not, I guess I am going to have to get rid of the shrimp.

[phishphood]

I'm still not sure why the peps would go after the GSP. They may just be giving it a once-over picking anything they can find off of it. I know my peps/cleaners will totally scour any new rock I put in for a few minutes, but then seem to leave it alone. You could try a trap like the water bottle one. Or I can net my shrimp pretty easy since they'll go to my hand whenever it's in the tank. Just put your hand at the surface w/ a piece of food and slide the net underneath.