Peppermint shrimp eating my SPS???

[ExpensiveHobby]

Last night I added a frag of Green Pocillipora to my tank and my 2 peppermint shrimp immediately were all over it. I didn't think anything at first because they typically inspect and clean all SPS when I first add it. But this time it appeared as though they were eating the poylps at the tip of the branches.

I asked the guy I bought it from him and he said it was completely normal because the SPS produce mucus when transported, exposed to air, and acclimated to a new tank. He said they were eating the mucus and not the coral but it doesn't look like it because the tips of the branches appear to hollowed out like a honey comb.

 

[Blown 346]

It is possible for certain specimens to do this.

 

[LoJack]

I would agree that it's more likely the mucus. I have a one spot fox face that does this whenever I frag something, or touch it with my hands and it slimes up.

If your shrimp are in fact eating it, there is a good chance you have camel shrimp, and not peppermint shrimp. Often mixed up during shipping because they look pretty similar to one another

 

[jda]

Not all peppermints are created equal. Not only do some from different areas of the gulf not eat aiptasia very well, they also will sometimes eat coral. When you get them, MAKE SURE that they are from the keys - these are your best bet. Most stores don't know where their suppliers got them from, so if you have to, order direct from a collector from the keys.

 

[a.browning]

I can confirm that peppermint shrimp can/will eat birdsnest and pocillopora polyps specifically. I have never seen them eat acros or other types of sps. I think the longer polyps are more desirable, but that's just a theory. I added 4 peppermints (from the keys, btw) and overnight they cleared polyps off my Birds of paradise and green pocillopora. They were quickly removed.

"Peppermint shrimp" contains 3 or so species of shrimp if I recall correctly, which come from different areas of the world. While some say Keys shrimp will not do this, I have seen 3 separate instances where this is not the case. I've seen them devour a perfectly healthy hammer coral, and on a separate occasion they ate part of a war favia.

Peppermint shrimp are opportunistic-- they will not let themselves starve if there is food available. This is true for any shrimp/crabs. And a lot of times they will do this even if they aren't starving. I will never have a peppermint shrimp or recommend one to anyone again.

 

[Acronic]

Not all peppermints are created equal. Not only do some from different areas of the gulf not eat aiptasia very well, they also will sometimes eat coral. When you get them, MAKE SURE that they are from the keys - these are your best bet. Most stores don't know where their suppliers got them from, so if you have to, order direct from a collector from the keys.

+100

They absolutely eat sps polyps, acros, stylo, seriatopora, monti ect... They are not eating the mucus, they are eating polyps, copepods, flatworms, nems, hydroids, tube worms, nudis.... I have see this all first hand and I have spent alot of time observing their behaviors.