Peppermint Shrimp for Aptasia Control?

[B1N4RY]

After picking up some free live rock from a fellow reef keeper I noticed some Apstasia Anemones sprouted in various spots. Rather then rely on chemical to deal wit them I would like to add a Peppermint Shrimp to deal with this issue naturally. I already have 2 Cleaner Shrimp and I have read various stories of the Cleaner Shrimp killing the Peppermint Shrimp. Is this a normal incompatibility that I need to be concerned with and that maybe I should go the route of Berghia Nudibranchs? Any thoughts are experiences would be greatly welcomed. Thank you in advanced for the assistance.

 

[thirty6]

in your last thread you said you dig the nudis, maybe difficult to find or at least harder to find than the shrimp

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I frequently have both cleaners and peppermint shrimps in the same tank without issues

 

[B1N4RY]

Reply to Thirty6.

in your last thread you said you dig the nudis, maybe difficult to find or at least harder to find than the shrimp

I do dig the Nudi's and two out of the three I have are still going strong. I was looking at the Berghia Nudibranchs which I cannot locate locally. However, I have located them for order over the internet so I am considering purchasing about 3 small ones so that can gang up on whatever is still living on the rock and once the cost is clear I can possibly pass them along. However, I have located Peppermint Shrimp locally so I was weighing my options.

 

[B1N4RY]

Reply to Aqua Pro Builder.

I frequently have both cleaners and peppermint shrimps in the same tank without issues

Thank you!

 

[edd]

i had aptaitia, i tried peppermint shrimp and they did nothing to aptaitia. i got a copper band butter fly, no more aptaitia. coral theory had one for $27.

 

[B1N4RY]

Reply to Edd.

i had aptaitia, i tried peppermint shrimp and they did nothing to aptaitia. i got a copper band butter fly, no more aptaitia. coral theory had one for $27.

I'm going to hold SPS Corals in this aquarium so the copper might not be a good choice for me.

 

[BaaMNYC]

Just be careful. Copperband and peppermint shrimp maybe go after your corals once the aiptasia is gone.

 

[edd]

I'm going to hold SPS Corals in this aquarium so the copper might not be a good choice for me.

i have sps, luckily he doesn't nip at anything for now.

 

[B1N4RY]

I think I am going to go the Berghia Nudibranch now just to be certain and when the time comes pass them along to another reefer.

 

[Fishinizer]

Same thing here never had a problem with both peeper mints are cheap though so if they do the job and then die off at least there's no more apraxia anemones go for it

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Copperband usually look for tentacles,things,.. that extend long such as feather duster, "fire scallop" and, sometimes, SPS if the tentacle looks like aiptasia.

There is another kind of shrimp that are sold as peppermint that looks just like the real thing which was reported to pick on some coral. They are not common though, so if your tank is small then the risk is low.

For nudi, they are the safest bet but they will die off when food is not enough or if you have certain fish that kills them. Never see it myself but ppl say some wrasse will either eat or harass them.

 

[brooklynfc]

Bought 2 peppermint shrimp from coral theory about 2 days ago and they ate all the aiptasia in the tank

 

[straightjiggy10]

i frequently have both cleaners and peppermint shrimps in the same tank without issues

+1

 

[reefer4eva]

Just be careful. Copperband and peppermint shrimp maybe go after your corals once the aiptasia is gone.

I had some aiptasia went out and bought 2 peppermint shrimp and they never ate the aiptasia , but the food my fish didnt eat and my setosa,green slimer,purple slimer...hmmm can't remember what else..needless to say I tore apart my whole tank after 2-10 dollar shimp cost me close to $100 in coral....oohh and I still had the aiptasia after everything.

 

[BaaMNYC]

I spent two days with make shift fish trap

Atleast it ate all my aiptasia first.

 

[B1N4RY]

Thanks everyone. I ended up ordering some Berghia Nudibranchs.

 

[ScubaDre]

My peppermint hungry??

After 3 days of chomping aiptasia in my new build now all the do is hang in the back of one of my rock. I haven't seen them eat anything in 4 days

 

[reefer4eva]

After 3 days of chomping aiptasia in my new build now all the do is hang in the back of one of my rock. I haven't seen them eat anything in 4 days

That's what I thought till half my sps corals where gone.

 

[FastUno]

I had that same issue once. What I did was to pinpoint the spot on the rock, remove the rock & chisel the rock. Your trying to chip off as little rock as possible without hitting or rupturing the aiptasia.

If the broken piece is too big, just dip it in clorox or vinegar for a few min & you can recycle the piece for frags.

I once had one between zoas & sacrificed 4 zoas to get rid of it. I had the zoas & aipt in a cup overnight. The temp in the cup had gotten colder & the aipt released itself from between the zoas. I simply removed the zoas & they survived just fine.

I may try this method again, leaving them in a container overnight. I have not seen any more aipt though to be able to try this again.