Cleaner or Pepermint Shrimp

[algonquin]

Just wondering if Pepermint Shrimp will perform the same function as Cleaner Shrimp in cleaning other fish. I know that they are good for Aptasia.

Andy

 

[wingedfish]

nope

I bought a skunk cleaner and two peppermints at the same time. No aptasia and the peppermints didn't make it a month. They hid and starved. the cleaner set up station and does his thing. sneaks the odd pellet.

 

[am3gross]

i have seen a fire shrimp ride around on a fish like the cleaner does but never a peppermint...

 

[Whisperer]

Agree that longevity of pep shrimps in captivity is dismal. They do not have good track record in aiptasia control and are hardly visible in the daytime. Often, they fall prey to many predators like wrasses, hawkfish and cardinals. Small cleaners may also be eaten by the mentioned fish. Adults with long whiskers usually do fine with the said fish. They have more personality and are good scavengers.

 

[Aporia]

I've had both. The Cleaner is the way to go. I can't say that the peppermint did anything for the aptasia that I had. In fact I hardly ever saw them, always hiding behind a rock somewhere. The Cleaner is very active and not at all timid.

 

[strout]

I have both in my tank and I wouldn't trade my Pep. Shrimp for a Purple Hornet frag. I used to go thru a bottle of Aptasia X every month. I got about 8 Pep. Shrimp and I buy a bottle about every 6 months. My over flow box has a bunch of Aptasia in it and I am sure that wilth out the Pep. Shrimp in the tank I would still be going thru a bottle of Aptasia X a month. I don't see them in the tank except when I feed the tank, they come out a grap a pellet or two and I also feed them a piece of shrimp every few days, they are big, about 16 to the pound LOL, well maybe not that big. I am down to four now though and I am sure that when the lights are out in the tank, they are out doing their thing.

 

[Matt Dean]

How big is your tank? I have a pair of cleaners, fire and peppermints in my 125. all doing well and growing and eating. No worries between them. I love having all three in pairs.

 

[zachfishman]

Go skunk cleaner, I had a peppermint that began eating ricordea and zoas after it exhausted the aiptasia.

 

[Reef Bass]

Cleaner shrimp cleans best. Fire shrimp will clean some. Neither eats aiptasia. My peppermint shrimps eat aiptasia and have lived over a year. I think they leave a few aiptasia as job security, but the tank is much better off with them and their aiptasia consuming efforts.

 

[chefb_5]

My pep cleaned all my aptasia and it was bad. I do see the in the daylight or at least I can see them in there house spot. They really come out and play at night. As far as cleaner I would say not really they do clean up some of the extra food though but I wouldn't use them for the main clean up crew.