peppermint shrimp with eggs

[reef fanatic]

I just picked up a peppermint shrimp that is loaded with eggs ( under the tail). Any idea how long does a shrimp carry the eggs? I realize it is food for my clowns and corals when they hatch, but what is fed to them usually if you want to try, live rotifers only choice?
Also is the female the one that carries the eggs or is it possible I have a male OR female? Wondering , so in the future I know what to buy if I wanna try it again. Can you sex these shrimp?
Any articles out there about peppermint fry rearing?
Any experiences?
THanks, Scott

 

[seapug]

second post on this exact topic today. I don't know if Peppermints are different, but I have a pair of skunk cleaner shrimp that shed babies every 3 weeks, almost like clockwork. As soon as they let the babies go, they molt, then immediately spawn new eggs and the process starts again. I would assume the process will be similar for your peppermint, but if you only have one, it probably won't happen again because the eggs have to be fertilized by another shrimp. I do know the Skunks are "simultaneous hermaphrodites"-- they can spawn eggs and fertilize another shrimp at the same time-- which is what mine have going on-- they basically "do" each other and shed gametes at the same time each cycle...crazy kinky shrimp world.