peppermint shrimp
- Thread starter domma
- Start date
- Location
- Virginia
They eat aiptasia anemones, but some people have said they also eat xenia and possibly some other polyps. They are generally considered to be reef safe, but people have had bad experiences with them, so it is a loose definition to qualify them as reef safe. IMO, they're kind of ugly, so if you don't need them to get aiptasia under control, why add them to the mix?
That's right, they're primary benefit is aptasia control. I keep a pair in the sump for occasional use in that regard and because they spawn once a month or so to add to the zooplankton in the tank. They are also good scavengers and I like to have something that eats any larger food particles that go down the overflow without having to wait for it to disintegrate and get picked up by the skimmer. I keep them in the sump because I have found they do bother many reef critters and I don't keep them in my refugium because they are pod predators. Feed them minced shrimp and they appear very happy and hardy. My opinion.
Pathos,
Before putting the bottle in your tank, make a small feeder and feed them for a couple weeks or so. you can use a pouch made of window material screening or a netting material . Put a piece of shrimp or fish in the pouch along with a couple stainles steel nuts,screws or rock to sink the pouch . tie it shut, drop it in the tank when lights are off with some fishing line tied to it for easy retrieval in the morning .after a few days they'll take no time getting over to the food .
When you feel its time , Put the pouch in the bottle,thread the fishing line up through the mouth , strip tie the bottle together and Drop it in . I used a regular size plastic soda bottle instead of the 2 liter and strip tied the inverted lid .
In minutes the shrimp start to figure out how to get the food . When one or both get in the bottle just start retrieving .The fishing line pulls the food pouch with the stainless steel screws,nuts or rock in it,up against the mouth of the bottle trapping the shrimp as your pulling the bottle out .
You'll have them in no time in your sump or back to your lfs .
I cought all three in my 125gl. in less than 30 minutes .
Before putting the bottle in your tank, make a small feeder and feed them for a couple weeks or so. you can use a pouch made of window material screening or a netting material . Put a piece of shrimp or fish in the pouch along with a couple stainles steel nuts,screws or rock to sink the pouch . tie it shut, drop it in the tank when lights are off with some fishing line tied to it for easy retrieval in the morning .after a few days they'll take no time getting over to the food .
When you feel its time , Put the pouch in the bottle,thread the fishing line up through the mouth , strip tie the bottle together and Drop it in . I used a regular size plastic soda bottle instead of the 2 liter and strip tied the inverted lid .
In minutes the shrimp start to figure out how to get the food . When one or both get in the bottle just start retrieving .The fishing line pulls the food pouch with the stainless steel screws,nuts or rock in it,up against the mouth of the bottle trapping the shrimp as your pulling the bottle out .
You'll have them in no time in your sump or back to your lfs .
I cought all three in my 125gl. in less than 30 minutes .
My Peppermints did a great job on my Aiptasia, then once they were gone began eating my Xenia. I think most shrimp are somewhat questionable in reef tanks, although a Scarlet Cleaner shrimp might be a better choice for someone that really wants a shrimp.
Just my opinion....
Just my opinion....
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