Peppermint Shrimp vs Softies?

KenStanley · #1 07/12/2007, 12:06 PM

I've heard that peppermint shrimp will eat aptashia's and thought I'd give it a try but then someone told me that the peppermint shrimp will also pick at softies. Does anyone know this for a fact??

porky · #2 07/12/2007, 12:49 PM

I have never had a peppermint shrimp mess w/any soft corals.

Travis L. Stevens · #3 07/12/2007, 12:56 PM

It doesn't happen often, but Peppermint Shrimp will occassionally find soft corals and even LPS a delicacy. They more commonly munch on Yellow Polyps over everything else. The chances of it happening are slim, but it has been reported. One thing to do to make sure you don't have your precious corals munched on is to make sure that you purchase Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni) and not Camel Back Shrimp (Rhynchocinetas durbanensis)

KenStanley · #4 07/12/2007, 12:57 PM

Thanks Porky........... and btw........ love the outfit! (LOL)

fsn77 · #5 07/12/2007, 12:58 PM

Our peppermint shrimp has behaved well... cleared our tank of aiptasia and has left our corals alone (softies & LPS).

KenStanley · #6 07/12/2007, 01:00 PM

Travis........ thank you very much. Guess I'll be getting a couple of Pepermints ((Lysmata wurdemanni). Is there an easy way to tell the difference? I for some reason (perhaps the name (LOL)) am thinking that the camel backs have a hump. Is that right?

Travis L. Stevens · #7 07/12/2007, 01:21 PM

Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni)

Camelback Shrimp (Rhynchocinetes uritai)

KenStanley · #8 07/12/2007, 01:35 PM

Travis, Gottcha............ thanks man. Have a great day!