The Vicious Peppermint Shrimp

[Matthew91]

I remember when I introduced peppermints into my reef tank. Worst mistake I have ever made. They nearly killed my frogspawn, Destroyed my metallic button polyp, and also destroyed one of the Duncan's heads.

Has anyone one else had these problems associated with "The Peppermint Shrimp"?

 

[nixer]

yes lots of ppl have had many issues with them eating corals.

 

[Matthew91]

Disgusting little critters. It's a good thing I don't have them in my 54

 

[Lynnmw1208]

yep! my 2 decided to eat my beautiful pink hammer! needless to say they are in the sump now

 

[Matthew91]

Yikes! That sucks

 

[arredondojason]

didnt even think of this my frog spawn and a sweet colony of micromussa just took a turn for the worst for no reason. Read this then went into my tank room and sure enough there were peppermint shrimp on them. Damn now i got to catch them or just put a wrass in there. lol.

 

[Matthew91]

Wow that sucks! I find them pretty easy to catch. Just throw some food and bam you got em. hopefully your corals become healthy again

 

[stagcrazy]

you sure you got peps if you mistakenly got camelback shrimp those will devour polyps and lps but ime unless the coral is not healthy peps wont bother it.

 

[Matthew91]

I am 100% sure they were peppermints. My lfs has a very knowledgeable staff

 

[StephLionfish]

Never had any go after coral....but i some ( and a Skunk Cleaner shrimp too) go after every feather duster i put in the tank. Apparently they thought the mucus on the feathers was tasty...

 

[bigevill1]

you sure you got peps if you mistakenly got camelback shrimp those will devour polyps and lps but ime unless the coral is not healthy peps wont bother it.

+1 I have had dozens of peps over the years and never had a problem. Now camelback shrimps? Yes, they eat corals, and at least two of my LFS sell camel shrimps as peps......

 

[Juicer69]

I have 4 peps in my 120 with hammers, Duncans and Torch corals and have no problems.

 

[rjmayes34]

i have 3 in my 120 with duncans, frogspawns, hammers, torchs and hae never had a problem with them.
Good luck and i hope i never have any problems, if you can

 

[arredondojason]

nope sure 199% sure they are peps and came home and one was on top of my rainbow acansypillia sticking its arms deep in the mouth and the coral is healthy so with a little mysis shrip and a net i got 3 out of the 4 in the sump prison now. and still have not seen the 4th one.

 

[snow flake]

mine have been going after my duncans and my 2 RBTAs! i was told they wouldnt mess with the corals but i guess they were wrong with that! i was wondering why my duncans have been closed for the last 3 days

 

[Cubbies]

Tell me about it. I am 1000% sure I had peps as well and they killed a duncan a couple other corals. For some reason they liked picking at them and never let them eat. I had put them in there for the Aptasia but nope. They are gone now.

 

[RokleM]

you sure you got peps if you mistakenly got camelback shrimp those will devour polyps and lps but ime unless the coral is not healthy peps wont bother it.

Not correct, sorry.

I've said it over and over and people still don't listen. There are many things in our reefs that are absolutely 'reef safe with caution'. Many fish, crabs, and shrimp fall into this category. Emerald crabs, most tangs, rabbit fish, blue leg crabs, the list goes on and on.

True peppermint shrimp are knowing for eating small fleshy aptasia. Is it really a surprise they would find fleshy corals tasty too?

Again, reef safe... with caution.

Just a few days ago:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2060091

 

[snow flake]

Tell me about it. I am 1000% sure I had peps as well and they killed a duncan a couple other corals. For some reason they liked picking at them and never let them eat. I had put them in there for the Aptasia but nope. They are gone now.

thats why i got mine because i got a piece of LR and it had aptasias on it!

 

[Cubbies]

thats why i got mine because i got a piece of LR and it had aptasias on it!

Although I know it doesn't always do the trick but I would use Aptasia X over Peps any day( I still do) after my experience with them.

 

[jmski333]

i dunno about pepper mints but my cleaner shrimp was a nightmare. Target feeding was impossible with that guy in the tank. Luckily i was able to outsmart him and catch him... Thank you evolution!