What do Peppermint shrimp eat?

[bronxer]

I've got a problem with aiptasia. I was thinking of putting a couple of peppermint shrimp in my refugium with a rock that has aiptasia on it, but I already have in the refugium some red gracilaria and a bunch of crustaceans living on the gracilaria.

Will the peppermints eat the crustaceans and/or the red gracilaria first?

That would be my guess, and if so, then I'll probably go with the berghia. I really like the crustaceans and would prefer not to lose them.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[rkl303]

They eat fish food. My brother hates his shrimp right now and wants to get rid of them because he is having a hard time feeding his fish.

 

[chadscharf]

Peppermint shrimp, like most shrimp, will eat pretty much anything they can get thier hands on and if food is in the tank, they will typically go after that before bothering with aiptasia. I don't know if they'll bother the other crustaceans, however I know that peppermint shrimp are lazy and although they might eat aiptasia, prefer to eat fish food, deitrius, etc first if available.

 

[scaast]

I had one in my tank...he ate ALL of the aptasia...and he also ate anything else I was feeding my fish.

 

[bmb527]

Oh!! I thought they ate peppermints....hence the name. No wonder mine all died!
Bill

 

[Zooid]

LOL.....well, they probably would eat peppermints given the chance.
Mine ate all the aptasia and now gorges on mysis that I feed.

 

[VikeBron]

I sure hope they eat the aptasia. I am throwing 10 in my tank(or at least messy is) this week to bring it under control.

 

[roguemonk]

They are going to eat just about anything meaty they find, I believe, like most shrimp. Small crustaceans, scraps of food if they find them, aiptasia unless there's tastier food available, etc.

Thanks,

Brad

 

[Thurge]

Mine usually eat what ever I am trying to feed to the corals. They just wander over and pull it away from the coral.

I can't wait for them to die, cause I am not going to tear the tank appart to get to them.
And if I did, they wouldn't last too long beind tossed to the mantis.

 

[roguemonk]

Put the mantis on a leash and have it guard the corals during feeding.

Brad

 

[Thurge]

If not for the 1" Twinspot Hog I would seriously consider just putting him in the bigger reef tank.
Though I think my little monster would soon be stealing snacks from the corals just like the Peppermint do already. Plus its easier to guard against harmless shrimp as opposed to a lightning fast mantis that can and HAS drawn serious blood. From me.

 

[scouter]

If it doesnt work

If it doesnt work

I got a copper banded butterfly and he took care of all of my aptasia in about a week. I had a pretty bad problem.