Experiences with Pepermint Shrimp eating Aiptasia?

[EpidemicScuzzy]

My 4 peppermint shrimp were definitely more of a "miss". They did a little work on some very small aiptasia at the beginning. However, being the opportunistic scavengers that they are, they will most likely go for easier food preferentially before they try taking down an aiptasia.

In my case, I had enough leftover food and detritus floating around each day that the peppermints were happy eating all of it and leaving the aiptasia alone. My experiment then essentially backfired since I had four lazy shrimp adding to my bioload and hiding in the rocks all day so I couldn't even enjoy watching them. HTH!

 

[EpidemicScuzzy]

My 4 peppermint shrimp were definitely more of a "miss". They did a little work on some very small aiptasia at the beginning. However, being the opportunistic scavengers that they are, they will most likely go for easier food preferentially before they try taking down an aiptasia.

In my case, I had enough leftover food and detritus floating around each day that the peppermints were happy eating all of it and leaving the aiptasia alone. My experiment then essentially backfired since I had four lazy shrimp adding to my bioload and hiding in the rocks all day so I couldn't even enjoy watching them. HTH!

 

[EpidemicScuzzy]

My 4 peppermint shrimp were definitely more of a "miss". They did a little work on some very small aiptasia at the beginning. However, being the opportunistic scavengers that they are, they will most likely go for easier food preferentially before they try taking down an aiptasia.

In my case, I had enough leftover food and detritus floating around each day that the peppermints were happy eating all of it and leaving the aiptasia alone. My experiment then essentially backfired since I had four lazy shrimp adding to my bioload and hiding in the rocks all day so I couldn't even enjoy watching them. HTH!

 

[emissary43]

They will sometimes work but if they run out of aptasia they can turn on some LPS corals. My buddy had some peppermints that decides to eat Acans like they were getting paid for it.

 

[peterpaul]

My peppermints ate up all my aptasia. Works great for me

 

[rexdenton]

Always had excellent results using peppermint shrimp to irradicate aiptasia. My tanks are very lightly fed, and I strongly believe the 'hit or miss' aspect may be related to how hungry they may be for considering the aiptasia as food...(i.e. if the tank is heavily fed, they don't go out and scrounge around for aiptasia.)

Similarly, i have found with all my peppermint shrimp, that after the aiptasia bloom is all consumed, the shrimp don't last long. My theory is that they starve as a result of their principle food supply being completely consumed.

 

[Peter Chefalo]

The Atlantic Banded butterflies work amazingly, attacking aptasia instantly but will pick at your LPS corals and especially invertebrates like spirobrachius christmastree worms over time, but they leave SPS alone for the most part.

 

[birdman1979]

I nuked an aipstasia growing at the base of my birds nest with some aiptasia-x. Absolutely zero damage to the coral or other tank inhabitants and it completely devistated the aipstasia. Worked like a charm.

 

[JCTewks]

The chemical method is only effective if you have an anemone or 2 that arrive on a frag and you can kill it BEFORE it has a chance to multiply...in my experience that time frame is less than 1 day before it starts spitting out little aptaisa (depending on size!) I've read stats that say a 1" aptaisa can put out 100's of baby's a day...and by the looks of my tank I'd say thats true

When you have a large oubreak, some form of biological control is necessary. CBB's seem to have the best and fastest results...but at the expense of some LPS and snails. Pep shrimp USUALLY work if stocked in high enough #'s...I have 2 in my 26g DT right now and am going to get another dozen or so this weekend. THe 2 shrimp are eating a few anemones...but for every 1 they eat another dozen show up. I say attack them with an army of shrimp

 

[majawestphal]

peppermints worked great for me.

 

[scrapz]

my tank exploded with aiptasia over 2 months, one even stung my yuma which has never looked the same, it's recovered but the coloring/shape is totally off

Tossed in 2 peppermints and first thing in the morning, the main aiptasia was gone. 2 weeks later, not a aiptasia in sight.

 

[Brian Peterson]

I have had great luck with peppermints as well. And would mirror other thoughts that once the aiptasia is gone the shrimp soon disapear as well.
Good luck

 

[redvicki]

I just read that red legged hermit crabs will also eat aiptasia. thoughts?

 

[scrapz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12937636#post12937636 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by redvicki
I just read that red legged hermit crabs will also eat aiptasia. thoughts?

have 5 red legged, none of mine have ever touched it

 

[redvicki]

Thanks. So does everyone have aiptasia at some point or is it just a very unlucky few?

 

[johnike]

I had a horrible plague in the 180, peppermints helped, but then I got the Copperband. Goodbye everyone of 'em! Now, she eats mysis and Rod's food. John

 

[tmz]

I don't know about everyone but I do.

 

[danfrith]

How are they with zoa's?

 

[goodreef]

I tried joe's juice, which was great for the obvious ones. But there were also many hidden ones that I did not find. After nuking them with Joe's, they always come back.

After putting in 8 peppermints, I now hardly see any aptasia ... maybe one every few months. They are not all gone, but definately well controlled!!

 

[Triadguppies]

I have discovered that my Camel shrimp likes them!