peppermint shrimp and aptasia

[Pushrod]

The 3 peppermint shrimp in my tank have completely devastated the aptasia population. There is not a single aptasia anenome left (There used to be more of the anenomes then I could count). My concern is this; what are the shrimp going to feed on next? Not my zooanthids or coralimorphs, or my star polyps? Should I seed the tank with more aptasia? Thanks for any advise.

 

[Anonymous]

The shrimp should make a good living off of fish food that finds its way to the bottom. Assuming you have fish, of course. If not you may want to target feed them something meaty.

Seed the tank with more aiptasia? That's crazy talk! Mine seemed to loose their taste for aiptasia after a while, I think they got used to the easier pickings available, so I wouldn't want to risk adding more vermin.

 

[Freedom75@work]

those guys have a healthy appitite.They will eat pretty much any kind of fish food you feed. I somtimes feed mine small peices of shrimp when I am feeding my corals . they will actually come and eat out of my hand. They should be fine. and more than likely everyonce in a while you will see a aptsia pop up but it will not last long

John

 

[kparton]

I had that same concern when I had an aptasia problem in my old reef. Fortunately, the peppermints were very well bahaved once the aptasia were gone and were really cool additions to the tank. the only problem with them was the fact that they would sometimes steal food out of the mouth of my bubble coral (I target fed him shrimp occasionally)!

 

[oimate84]

Your lucky on the peppermint shrimp. I just added 3 to my 55gal about 2 weeks ago and my aptasia population hasnt seemed to decrease..Hope they get them soon or I might add a Copperband Butterfly..

 

[Freedom75@work]

it might take you a little time if the population is high or if you are feeding heavy. Copperbands do nip at corals , so thats somthing you might want to keep in mind . Also I have heard that LFS's are selling camel backs as peppermints. if that is the case they do not eat aptasia

John

 

[LFS42]

I have seen mixed results after the apstasia are gone.
My 3 peppermint's want after everything after they were gone.
Even my toadstool leathers.

Fortunatly, my brittle star has an apetite for shrimp now.

But, I've seen some well behaved shrimp also.

As far as the camelback's, I've seen them eat apstasia also, but not as aggresivly. I would not get them for pest control. And yes some LFS do not know the difference.
Camel's are red with white stripes
Peppermints are clear/white with red stripes
(I believe)