SAT
Premium Member
You may notice a difference between the two small Pocillopora colonies in this picture...
The white one on the left was added two weeks ago. It looked very much like the on the right on the first evening. It looked like this (minus a bit of the algae) the following morning. The one on the right was added one week ago, after I removed the peppermint shrimp. In one night my 8 peppermint shrimp pulled 98% of the polyps off the first colony. Yum yum!
Before I go any further, yes I do know the difference between peppermint and camel shrimp. I have seen both many times. These were shipped to me by a reputable firm that collects in Florida (and I'm pretty sure they know the difference too). I have had the shrimp for about 2 years, but this is the first I have added small vulnerable animals to the tank in that time.
No I did not have any Aiptasia. They did not learn to eat corals or anemones in my tank... they figured that out on their own. They leave my large flower anemones alone, presumably from a strong sense of self preservation.
The shrimp also attacked a small flower anemone and a small Ricordea that I added at the same time as the first Pocillopora. I was able to save both of those before permanent damage was done.
Thanks to Mike at my LFS (Aquarium Specialties & Research) for replacing the Pocillopora free of charge, and accepting the evil shrimp I gifted him, after hearing my sob story. He told me he would keep the shrimp isolated... but they may go into the octopus tank.
BTW, there are more polyps visible on the damaged colony now than there were a week ago. I am hopeful it will recover.
The shrimp added a lot of life to the tank and, strangely, I miss them.
The white one on the left was added two weeks ago. It looked very much like the on the right on the first evening. It looked like this (minus a bit of the algae) the following morning. The one on the right was added one week ago, after I removed the peppermint shrimp. In one night my 8 peppermint shrimp pulled 98% of the polyps off the first colony. Yum yum!
Before I go any further, yes I do know the difference between peppermint and camel shrimp. I have seen both many times. These were shipped to me by a reputable firm that collects in Florida (and I'm pretty sure they know the difference too). I have had the shrimp for about 2 years, but this is the first I have added small vulnerable animals to the tank in that time.
No I did not have any Aiptasia. They did not learn to eat corals or anemones in my tank... they figured that out on their own. They leave my large flower anemones alone, presumably from a strong sense of self preservation.
The shrimp also attacked a small flower anemone and a small Ricordea that I added at the same time as the first Pocillopora. I was able to save both of those before permanent damage was done.
Thanks to Mike at my LFS (Aquarium Specialties & Research) for replacing the Pocillopora free of charge, and accepting the evil shrimp I gifted him, after hearing my sob story. He told me he would keep the shrimp isolated... but they may go into the octopus tank.
BTW, there are more polyps visible on the damaged colony now than there were a week ago. I am hopeful it will recover.
The shrimp added a lot of life to the tank and, strangely, I miss them.
A reef tank without shrimps is not worth keeping, if you ask me ;-)
