Peppermint shrimp reef safe?

[gordoncheers]

Are these shrimp reef safe? I was looking to get one to help control the aiptasia population in my 160 gallon.

 

[sfin52]

Are these shrimp reef safe? I was looking to get one to help control the aiptasia population in my 160 gallon.

If they are the right type of peppermint shrimp. In that size of tank you will need a few.
Have you considered the aptasia eating nudi?

 

[edsbeaker]

Yes, they are reef safe, but mixed reviews on them controlling aiptasia.

 

[sfin52]

Why Peppermint Shrimp are a Good Choice for Reef Tanks

Peppermint shrimp make fantastic additions for community reef tanks! The peppermint shrimp, sometimes known as a sweeper shrimp, has several advantages

www.algaebarn.com

 

[John Neuzil]

I have added the kind that are supposed to be reef safe and they were for awhile. When the aptasia were gone they eventually turned on my hammers and started killing them.

 

[reefpanda]

Mine went after the zoas after wiping out aiptasia. You can consider Australian Stripey fish for aptasia control too. Highly effective

 

[exnisstech]

Mine haven't bothered coral but I keep them fed. I keep peppermints in smaller tanks and CBB in larger and have no aiptasia in the DTs

 

[Gman83]

There are a lot of vendors that sell peppermint shrimp, but you need to make sure they are Lysmata wurdemanni. In the attached picture "A". Easiest way to tell is the lines. L. Wurdemanni will not go after corals.

While all the shrimp pictured are peppermint shrimp, not all are safe. I have seen several vendors selling "peppermint shrimp" but not l. Wurdemanni. So while the vendor's representation is true, it's not the kind we need or want. I don't think it malicious on their part.

I had three, and it took them several weeks to go after the aipastia, but slowly and surely they began to disappear (I had probably 10 or so I could see). They even went after a very large one. Once they were gone they would eat mysis, or other fish food. I lost two of them during a tank transfer (they went carpet surfing and I didn't notice and found dried out shrimp later), and not sure if I still have the third one or what happened it.

* the picture is not mine, I originally found it on humblefish when I was researching them. I think that poster took it from a paper on peppermint shrimp.

 

[Gman83]

I forgot to add that while I cannot guarantee that l. Wurdemanni will not eat coral, in my experience, and in talking other reefers about it, I have yet to hear someone with that species experience coral eating

 

[Tahoe61]

Peppermint Shrimp did dine on my Maxi-mini Anemones, but that actually makes perfect sense. I have also witnessed them stealing food from LPS. I am not on board with Peppermint Shrimp being reef safe, reef safe with caution perhaps.

 

[gordoncheers]

If they are the right type of peppermint shrimp. In that size of tank you will need a few.
Have you considered the aptasia eating nudi?

I was looking for something that could live long term in my reef. Berghia nudibranchs as cool as they may be, will just die off once the aiptasia population is gone.

 

[sfin52]

Mine went after the zoas after wiping out aiptasia. You can consider Australian Stripey fish for aptasia control too. Highly effective

Risky with coral. I've seen one eating torches