Peppermint shrimp eat cleaner shrimp???

[hottie79]

Help! I really want a cleaner shrimp, but I have 5 peppermint shrimp in the tank. I love them, they are cute, but they just hide. I wanted to get a cleaner shrimp but was told by my LFS that the peppermint shrimp will destroy the cleaner shrimp. Does anyone know if this is true? :notsure:

 

[susieq]

I'm having a problem right now. I had 5 peppermint shrimp and just added a cleaner. Now 3 of my peppermints are dead. Obviously murdered. Are there any shrimp experts here?

 

[maryd]

I have 2 cleaner shrimp and 2 Peppermints and so far so good. I was told by the LFS that they were fine together. I have only seen 2 of the peppermints at a time but one of them recently molted so could be in hiding still.

 

[chadman]

i had two peppermints which i added to my tank and they lasted a two days each morning i woke up my cleaner shrimp was munching on a different one.....

 

[max22]

it depends on the size of your tank and the size of the shrimp. In a small tank 5 pepermint shrimp would destroy the cleaner as soon as it started molting.

 

[hottie79]

Thanks Max. Its a 30 gallon and they all hide under one specific rock. They have all molted a couple of times, but are still no bigger than 3/4 of an inch. I have never ever seen them on the other side of the tank, maybe flow is too high on the other side....
So do you think I should stay away from the cleaner shrimp then? Is there anything comperable that the shrimp will leave alone? :help:

 

[stanlalee]

My cleaner shrimp (well fire cleaner same difference) manhandled all but one of my peppermint shrimp. Only one left is the smallest one and I guess he doesn't consider it a threat but he will chase it if it gets to close. I started with 5 and he'd chase back any that came within view of his overhang. Just be smart with sizing (if the peppermints are already there make sure the cleaner is bigger than they are) and realize there isn't much territory to begin with. I'd trade in most of the peppermints if I were you, there a dime a dozen anway.

 

[hottie79]

Stanlalee thank you so much for always answering my posts. You have NO idea how much of a godsend you are

I will try to capture the peppermints and trade them in, thanks so so so so so much.

 

[stanlalee]

Originally Posted by Hottie79
Stanlalee thank you so much for always answering my posts. You have NO idea how much of a godsend you are

I will try to capture the peppermints and trade them in, thanks so so so so so much.
Oh dont be so kind

It just so happens that I honestly happen to have a 30 gallon which once had a cleaner and 5 peppermint shrimp until the peppermints started disappearing. Glad to share my experiences anytime.