Shrimp Compatability

[FroMan]

Until some point earlier this week, I had two shrimp in my tank. A peppermint and a cleaner. The peppermint was my first addition followed by the cleaner a few months later.

The cleaner always seemed to be more dominant and would chase off the peppermint for prime location etc.

Late Monday night I noticed quite a few of the nassarius snails I have were wandering around along with the hermit crabs. I thought it was unusual, but I didn't see them converging anywhere, so I didn't think much of it.

So, 4 days later and the no sign of the peppermint even at feeding time. I've scoured my tank looking for it, but it doesn't seem to be around or hiding anywhere.

Are there certain shrimp that should not be combine and/or not reef safe?

I would like to add a replacement for it along w/ a shrimp that may form a symbiotic relationship with my yellow watchman goby.

 

[iCam]

They should be able to be kept together without a problem.

It's possible the shrimp is hiding after a molt somewhere you can't see.

 

[Loralie]

I have 2 harlequins, fire cleaner, peppermint in my tank with no issues

 

[FroMan]

Well its been about a week and neither my girfriend or myself has seen the pepermint. I'm guessing that it is toast.

Oh well it gives me an excuse to buy a shrimp that could create a symbiotic relationship with my goby...

 

[joeychitwood]

I have two Skunk Cleaner shrimp and one Peppermint. Lately, the Peppermint has disappeared. I used to see it at night during a red-light inspection, but no more. I hope it is just hiding out.

 

[overCee]

I have had a large skunk cleaner and two smaller peppermints living together in my tank for 5 months or so. The cleaner is certainly the dominant shrimp, but none of them have ever attacked each other or anything.

 

[fishfanv]

i have a cleaner in my 30 with a peppermint. i have seen the peppermint maybe twice in the last 4 months or so since i got it. yours is probably still in there but hiding.

 

[sloshes]

I have 2 skunk cleaners and 2 fire shrimp in a 55. All are happy as clams.

 

[fambrough]

This is totally out of line with most others experience, at least as I have read. When I introduced a peppermint into my 40 that housed a decent sized cleaner, the peppermint exhibited dominant behavior and freaked the cleaner. The cleaner shrimp went into this bizzaro defensive state where it "hid" on top of a powerhead to get away. On morning about a week after the peppermints introduction, I found the cleaner on the floor, my first and only casualty.

I liked the cleaner much better, way better personality. Still, the peppermint did it's job: rid my tank of aiptasia.

I suppose the peppermint could be toast by now, shell disolved and all that. Is your tank covered? Did you check on the floor within a few feet of the tank? I have observed reclusive behavior lasting not much more than one day after a shrimp molts. I hope he's hiding, but I bet you're right. Anyway, best of luck.

Cheers,
Ben

 

[SDguy]

Wow, first time I've ever heard of a shrimp carpet surfing!

Peppermints hide a lot. Can be really hard to find. Have you checked in the middle of the night, with red flashlight?

 

[FroMan]

Fambrough: I did check the floor and on the stand behind my tank. I didn't see anything and I don't smell anything at the moment.

SDguy I have looked at night. I don't have a red light, but I looked with a mini mag light (AAA) and I didn't see him hiding. I don't have that much live rock in my tank. There aren't that many places for him to hite.


My guess is that the nassarius and the hermit crabs made a meal of him. I'm just not sure what happened to the shell. :shrug: