shrimp.

wastememphis

AC Members
Sep 6, 2003
963
0
0
40
Buffalo, New York
www.peccaviparty.com
I'm intrested in getting some shrimp, I had two pepermint after my tank cycled but i traded them in before I bought fish... its a 29gallon tank, 55lbs live rock 30lbs sand, reef. I like the skunk (cleaner) shrimp and blood shrimp. I don't know how many I should put in my tank though, two of each sounds good to me or maybe one blood and two cleaners but i dont know if they would become the main things in my tank once they got larger, any input, or problems one keeping the shrimp (I have heard that people don't like some shrimp well the banded and pistol, for reefs, if i was willing to feed star fish i'd deff get a Harlequin Shrimp but i dont think so...) thanks for responding
 
A pair of skunk cleaners will be great in a 29. There probably wouldn't be a problem with adding a few blood shrimp as well, but I have never tried it.
 
I have a pair of skunks in my 10, and they are great. Very active, always out. The 120 reef has a pair of blood shrimp--they are gorgeous, but not as social. They tend to find a cave, and spend most of their time in there. I wouldn't bother getting just one blood--you'll never see it. I started out with one, never saw it. Added another, and now at least they will hang out in the front of the rock, instead of in the very back. I love them, probably going to add another 2-3, but if you want something you can see (and get cleaned by anytime to you in your hand), go with the skunks.
 
Thanks, but you don't think at adult size it might be crowded for two cleaners and two blood shrimp??? I've seen bloods with 5" antennas.
 
Oh, no, wasn't saying to add them both--but to add a pair of either. Should have plenty of room for that. I'd be comfortable with the pair of bloods in my 10, if it was just them. You just don't want a single blood shrimp--it would hide all the time.
 
the tank your going to use is also a small one so you might be able to get away with one of them and see it fine. Also i have both skunks and bloods in my tank and they are awesome, especailly the skunks, if you stick your hand in with them they will actually clean you off. its nuts.
 
Trying this again.
hand2.jpg
 
Last edited:
OK, I got a question about shrimp. My 75gal setup with approx 80lbs of LR and 100lbs of LS has 5 fish, 1 Yellowtang, 1 Coral Beauty, 1 yellowtail tang and 2 common clowns. My tank is sprouting quite a bit of aptasia. Will a peppermint shrimp really take care of this stuff or not. Because this stuff is really taking over. Iv'e had this setup going on 2 years. What about algea, are they great cleaners?
 
Peppermint are not considered 100% reef safe. They will sometimes eat aiptasia, but they will often go after corals and polyps as well.

I treat aiptasia with kalkwasser paste--make a thick paste with some water, and use a syringe to inject the main stalk with it. If they go into a hole, just fill the hole up with the paste. Be careful not to get the paste on any desirables, but this will kill them off. Sometimes you have to treat once a week to get rid of them all, but it will work.
 
AquariaCentral.com