Peppermint Shrimp and Mithrax Crabs

[EvilMel]

Ok. I want to know what your issues have been with these little buggers.

I swear I put three Peppermints into my tank hoping they'd eat the aiptasia that I got from this jerk at the store and they didn't eat a single one. These were the very same Peppermints that had been in a tank at the store and decimated any aiptasias in sight. I stopped feeding as much as I had previously and they're still useless. I'm thinking of feeding them to Roe (the mantis shrimp).

On to Mithrax crabs...do these guys eat corals? Everyone seems to love them because they eat hair algae but I swear I had one 11 years ago that ate the crud outta my zenia (in hindsight that was awesome but I wasn't smart enough to hate zenia at the time). It was this really pretty silvery blue thin bar zenia or something like that.

 

[GPhiAce]

Shrimp creep me out as we all know. The emerald crabs just knock things over, ie rocks, frags, corals. I don't have them in my tank any more. Used to love them because of what they did to clean up the tank, but hated seeing the things they knocked over.

 

[planejane]

I had the peppermint shrimp from he_l. Oh it did a fab job of eating the aptasia with in 24 hours of going in the tank. (the aps were small, that might make a difference in wether or not the shrimp go for it) Then it started on the corals. Finnished off a frag of torch within minutes, then went for an acan. It appeared to be pulling it apart just for the fun. I didn't have to get rid of it, an Orchid Dottyback did that for me!

 

[McCabe0930]

mel I think the aiptasia might be too big for them to eat. the shrimp that we had would not eat it either.

 

[cee]

Do mithrax eat hair algae? I knew they were good for bubble algae but didn't know about eating hair algae. Interesting if it is correct, guess I just never considered them for this.

Dave

 

[ct_vol]

Mithrax can be hit or miss with corals... Some choose to eat, while others leave alone... I've had some pick at pocillopora and other corals... I'm with Dave A though in that I think their diet is mostly on bubble algae not hair algae...

I hate peppemints... They're like cats... Worthless if you feed them at all...

 

[snajhawa]

i purchased a peppermint shrimp for the same purpose. He didn't touch a single aiptasia but he did manage to devour my xenia.

 

[planejane]

If one would promise to only eat Xenia, I would gladly have it.

 

[seased]

I've never had any luck with peppermint shrimp or mithrax crabs. They seem to disappear in a few weeks. Also, they never helped with the bubble algae or the aiptasia. I recommend some Joes Juice for the aiptasia - just a little squirt and they are gone. On the bubble algae, I recommend some tweezers and a lot of patience.

 

[EvilMel]

Dude...I swear that when we throw hair algae covered rocks into the bin with mithrax crabs they gobble it up. I solemnly swear.

 

[snajhawa]

lime juice also works wonders on aiptasia.

 

[Chemi-Pure]

If your Aiptasia is medium to large most peppermint shrimps won't bother with them. Copperband Butterfly Fish will eat Aiptasia also, but they are harder to keep.

 

[EvilMel]

[violation]

 

[Flavum]

Of course they devour it when you have like 2 dozen crabs ina 10 gallon with some hair algea on it. that be like putting 200 hundred in your tank.

The peppermint deal I never understand. Personally theyve always worked wonders for me but Ive heard ALOT of stories of them munching on corals.

 

[EvilMel]

Russell are you coming to the Christmas Party or what? You should definitely come!!!

 

[Flavum]

id love to but Im leaving for florida on the 18th I want to make another one soon though. Maybe we could try and get miss Abby to come as well.

 

[EvilMel]

I'm trying to get Abby more involved in the club but she's too ding dang anti-social. It stinks because everyone loves her.