World's most boring shrimp

[rbaldino]

I recently setup a 10 gallon reef and added a peppermint shrimp to deal with an aiptasia problem. Only thing is, the shrimp doesn't do anything. He spends all day hiding in the rock work. I've heard that these shrimp are social. Is he more likely to be active if he has a friend? Thanks.

 

[reefforbrains]

yeah they will have a blast together,..................while both hidden in the rockwork.
Flame shrimp are good but shy, a cleaner is usually all over any given tank in sight almost all times.

 

[fishnerd02]

Yes, they are nocturnal I think. I had one that I thought had died because I never saw it, and I got another one. I didn't see it at all either, then I moved to a new apartment and emptied the entire tank. They were both alive and well hidden in the rocks...
I bought a new one recently, because its been a couple years, but I am not sure if he is alive or not. nowhere to be found. I might have to surprise the tank at 3am and take a look, that seems to be the only way to know. They only do a so-so job of clearing out Apstesia so its hard to gauge from that.

 

[bonebrake]

They do most of their work at night. Mine are extremely social and come out during the day, but it took them a few months before they felt comfortable enough to do so. In fact, last night one of the peppermint shrimp gave birth to about 500 baby shrimp and fed all of the fish and corals. They have a batch of babies once or twice a month and they always hatch about an hour after the lights go out.

 

[shrimpi]

will Mandarins eat baby peppermint shrimp? I have one pepp. shrimp and he is a ninja. He hides and scampers out to grab food really fast. I have a blood shrimp and a cleaner/skunk who are seriously social butterflies.

He did take care of a few aiptasia I had though. Maybe ill get another one so they can mate? how do you know which is male/female?

 

[adairable]

all I know is that they love to bite me when I stick my hand in the tank....little

[hr]
! But they definatly like to be in groups. I had one and he didn't do too well...then I got 7 off of SWF and they are crazy!

 

[jmj6239]

Mine are out all the time, I hand feed them every so often, so they arent shy! Ive never been bitten like I've heard, granted they do pick (with their claws) the dead skin from around cuts if you let them.

 

[azreefgirl]

I think my fireshrimp may be a little more boring than yours.

He just hangs out all day on a rock under the feeding area. In fact, he moves so little that he has algae growing on him. Yep, his white spots eventually turn brownish-green until he molts again, and he even had some macro algae growing on his leg. I need to get this little guy on an exercise program!

 

[jfingers088]

Yes peppermint shrimp have to be in 2 or more. What they do is when they go to eat a aptasia they take turns getting stung until there bellies are full. That is why if you only have one they won't really do anything because they can't really do the job themself. They are nonturnal and mostly come out at night. I have 4 and sometimes one will come out while the lights are on and stuff but mostly they come out when my lights are off. I think they are great since i got mine ive never seen a aptasia since. My opinion they do the job there supposed to. In my tank they do. If i was you i would get at least 2 more to make 3 and they will have a blast together. Good luck!

 

[shrimpi]

yeah, my one pepp. shrimp does a great job with the little bit of aiptasia I get. But I want him to have babies and feed my mandarin a treat! Isnt that cruel lol. Im gonna get another one.