peppermint shrimp not eating aiptasia

[reefermadness85]

i bought 2 peppermint shrimp to get rid of these things and they havent touched them...any ideas on what to do or why?

 

[philter4]

There are several species of peppermint shrimp, of the 2 from the atlantic only1 eats aptasia, the other doesn't, Idon't know about the pacific species, but there are several so my guess would be all of them don't.

 

[iamwhatiam52]

It's hit or miss. Many people swear by them, but they never work for me. I even watched some eat aptasia at the store, then put the same individuals in my tank where they never molested an aptasia again. Maybe there are other tasty things in my tank.

 

[porkchop48]

Mine never ate them either.

 

[Aurora D.]

I expect that it just depends on the individual shrimp and the species, I would purchase one that's been seen eating aptasia before I got it. On the flip side peppermints are beautiful IMO.

 

[kryptic4l]

bought some known aptaisia eaters from my lfs, every one who has purchased from that tank has had success. Ive had to much success over the past 3 days of them being in my tank , i think they may need to goto another tank in a few weeks, as the population may be entirely wiped. night 1 was like i think this one is missing and this one may be missing, night two my most noticeable one hanging right off my return pipe was toast, just a few left hiding in packs off zoos.

 

[tatuvaaj]

Lysmata spp. seem to prefer other food sources and are likely to eat Aiptasia sp. only when starved. IMHO this is the likely explanation for the differences between tanks.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/m1u322ead9tpp0eb/

This article is available in full:
Biological control of aquarium pest anemone Aiptasia pallida verrill by peppermint shrimp Lysmata risso.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Biolo...emone+Aiptasia+pallida+verrill...-a0118543938