Extra Peppermint Shrimp

[Salt1972]

7 months ago, we put 2 peppermint shrimp into our 125g mixed reef. Recently, I've noticed that they are both really fat. I wondered if they were... "with larvae". Last night, while feeding a 3rd peppermint shrimp made an appearance. It was about 1/2 the size of the larger shrimp, but way larger than I would expect offspring to be.

I read a couple of articles about peppermint shrimp life cycle. From what I read, it would NOT be an accident to have shrimp make it through the larval stage without considerable effort.

Plausible? Where did the extra shrimp come from?

 

[James M]

It is possible the produced it or is it possible it came as a hitch bicker lately? Like on a LR?

 

[Captain Quint]

It is possible the produced it or is it possible it came as a hitch bicker lately? Like on a LR?

+1 I've had peppermint hitchhikers as you suggest.

 

[Salt1972]

No new rock additions in over a year... Is it possible the new shrimp made it through the larval stage in an open mixed reef?