Peppermint Shrimp help

[MaiReef]

I have a 100 gallon tank.
pH 8.2, dKH 9, Calcium 480, Temp 77, salinity 35 ppt, Nitrates 8-10, Phosphates .1.
Current Inhabitants
Mixed coral
Red Fire Shrimp
Peppermint Shrimp in sump
Coral Beauty
Flame Angel
Gold-Striped Maroon Clown
Engineer Goby
Scopas Tang
Black and White Chromis
Azure Damsel
Talbot's Damsel
Spotted Mandarin
Black and Gold Damsel
Red leg hermits
Tiger conch
Various snails


This is the third time I have tried Peppermint shrimp. I have had Cleaner Shrimp before each lasting about 2.5 years. Never found remains. The Red Fire has been in there about 2.5 years and doing well. The two previous times I have tried Peppermint shrimp I have gotten 4-6. They all disappeared within a week except for the one I put in the sump which has been there 3.5 years. I just put in 4 yesterday after 3 hour drip acclimation. They immediately took to the rock work as expected. Here is the real question...

Will I ever see them again?

 

[James M]

I have a 100 gallon tank.
pH 8.2, dKH 9, Calcium 480, Temp 77, salinity 35 ppt, Nitrates 8-10, Phosphates .1.
Current Inhabitants
Mixed coral
Red Fire Shrimp
Peppermint Shrimp in sump
Coral Beauty
Flame Angel
Gold-Striped Maroon Clown
Engineer Goby
Scopas Tang
Black and White Chromis
Azure Damsel
Talbot's Damsel
Spotted Mandarin
Black and Gold Damsel
Red leg hermits
Tiger conch
Various snails


This is the third time I have tried Peppermint shrimp. I have had Cleaner Shrimp before each lasting about 2.5 years. Never found remains. The Red Fire has been in there about 2.5 years and doing well. The two previous times I have tried Peppermint shrimp I have gotten 4-6. They all disappeared within a week except for the one I put in the sump which has been there 3.5 years. I just put in 4 yesterday after 3 hour drip acclimation. They immediately took to the rock work as expected. Here is the real question...

Will I ever see them again?

Probably. Since you just added them, I would worry about it too much

 

[sbash]

About 18 months or so ago, I added one or two to a couple of my tanks, and didn't see them after that...

Until a month ago (maybe two), there was one in each tank and they were HUGE!

Get out your red flashlight a few hours after the lights are off (i.e. even ambient lights) and see if you can spot them roaming around. They are very nocturnal creatures, so they could very well just be hiding when there is ambient light or any movement around the tank.

 

[pecan2phat]

I have a 180g display, have added peppermints twice in the last 6 months. 1st time was 9 medium sized group and 2nd was 12 large sized group. Each time they have not fared well. There are 3 resident large Cleaner shrimps in the tank and I've seen them go after the peppermints.
I also have fairy wrasses and a mystery wrasse in the tank and have recently witnessed them tearing apart a peppermint.

 

[pecan2phat]

Think I need to try an ORA filefish next for my stupid aiptasia :confused:

 

[cracker]

@MaiReef Thanks for posting this ! I added 2 real small peps about a week ago. I long acclimated & add after lights out all flow & return off. Haven't seen either since. I have 2 small fish in this 75. I was about to post the same questions. So they are nocturnal which gives me hope they still live. I also have an apastia issue . The file fish are next ! I'd get a nudibranc if I could find one local.

 

[MaiReef]

Well, for a brief moment I saw one yesterday when I got home from work. Woohoo!
The one in my sump destroys aiptasia. The key is getting the correct species of what is called peppermint shrimp. There are shrimp that look similar. From what I have read the Wurdemanni is the best at it.