cleaner vs pepermint

[kravi]

Okay, so I have a small tank, a 30 gallon (plus a 10 gallon sump). And currently residing in it is a cleaner shrimp. He's an absolute meshugana, but provides hours of entertainment. Doesn't harm anything, of course, but loves to climb all over my new anemone (doesn't bite or nibble it, just bugs it).

However, with my latest coral purchase, I'm afraid the rock has some aptasia on it. I don't want my tank to be overrun.

So I thought it would be great to get a peppermint shrimp. However I've been warned that putting a cleaner and a peppermint together in this small of a tank would lead to the cleaner killing the peppermint.

So basically, my question is this. Should I trade in my cleaner (very sad) for a peppermint, or can I get another aptasia eater instead which is otherwise reef safe?

I currently only have two fish in the tank, a six line wrasse and a bi-coloured blenny. I will be getting two clowns once the anemone has settled in, and eventually a fridmani.

So, what are my options and what are you recommendations?

Thanks!

--Me

 

[AquaReeferMan]

Nope atleast IME nothing will happen. I have cleaners and peps together in my tanks with no problems. My buddy has them together in his 30g along with my mother. I have never had any problems so I dont think you will. Now my cleaner will chase the pep away if it gets to close but nothing to hurt it.

 

[ducati1212]

not the same but I have a 30 Gal with a Skunk Cleaner and a blood Red Shrimp and they are great together. Small shoving mathces for the high ground on occasion but for the most part they are great.

 

[Paintbug]

why not just hit the aiptasia with some joes juice or other methods?

 

[Domboski]

I have cleaners, Pepps and camels together in a 20 hex. They have been together for quite some time. My cleaners do kill fire shrimp anytime I try to introduce one no matter what size. But outside of that, as long as they are well fed, they seem to tolerate each others company.

 

[kravi]

So peppermints get along with cleaners okay? I had heard otherwise, but I could be mistaken. Thanks

--Me

 

[Domboski]

I would just be careful Kravi. When you introduce your Peppermint watch closely the reaction of the cleaner. The only issue I see is that your cleaner is established and may get a bit territorial but thats not a given. No one can say he will definately kill the Pepp as you see by the many posts here.

 

[kravi]

Are there any other aspasia eaters out there that are reef and cleaner safe?

Joe's juice is fine, but aspasia, IIRC tends to grow in those hard to reach places, and I won't be able to completely eliminate it that way. It'll keep coming back.

Hence the desire for something that is happy to eat it whenever it shows up.

--Me

 

[CrystalAZ]

Just put it in on the opposite side of your cleaner's territory and you should be ok.

But realize that all pepps don't eat aiptasia so he may be one that doesn't touch it.

Also, I'd recommend having TWO each of cleaners and pepps. That way they breed and your tank gets a lot of free fish food in the form of baby shrimpies.

Crystal

 

[kravi]

Problem with 4 shrimps is that I have a small tank. Don't think I can support them all. I'm skeptical about my ability to support two, let alone four.

I've never heard that peppermints won't eat aptasia. I thought they all did on general principle.

--Me

 

[kravi]

P.S. My cleaner, since it is in a 30 gallon tank, thinks of the whole tank as his territory. He wanders around the whole tank all the time (when he isn't sitting in the middle annoying my BTA).

--Me

 

[STEELERFAN747]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8239987#post8239987 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AquaReeferMan
Nope atleast IME nothing will happen. I have cleaners and peps together in my tanks with no problems. My buddy has them together in his 30g along with my mother. I have never had any problems so I dont think you will. Now my cleaner will chase the pep away if it gets to close but nothing to hurt it.

Your mother must be a very small lady to fit in a 30g. (hahahaha/ lmao)

 

[kravi]

too funny

--Me