
What more could anyone want from a clean-up crew? While they are hard-working clean-up crew squad members, they are still sensitive invertebrates. It is a creature that feeds on detritus and aiptasia. The peppermint shrimp is highly sought after mainly for its feeding habits. In fact, peppermint shrimp that are very well fed have been known to stop eating aiptasia! The peppermint shrimp’s dietary needs will likely be met through scavenging. Additional feeding should not be necessary. Iodine is a required trace element and necessary to promote healthy molting. Like other invertebrates, peppermint shrimp will not tolerate excessively high nitrate levels. Most reef tank residents find peppermint shrimp to be friendly and pleasant. With a pointed nose and a hump on its back, the camel shrimp has similar coloration as peppermint shrimp. durbanensis has very distinctive features. The Peppermint Shrimp, sometimes called the Veined or Caribbean Cleaner Shrimp, can be confused with the camel shrimp, Rhynchocinetes durbanensis. The Peppermint Shrimp eats uneaten food and decomposing organic material around the reef tank and live rock. Lysmata wurdemanni, despite being classified as a “cleaner” shrimp, is more of a scavenger. boggessi is the only species that truly will prey on aiptasia. The Peppermint Shrimp is well celebrated for its ability to naturally control invasive aiptasia or glass anemones. What are Peppermint Shrimps Best Known For? The Peppermint Shrimp thrives in reef scapes with live rock, plenty of hiding spots, and open scavenging areas. These shrimps are commonly found along the rocky undersides of the reef. These shrimps can be found in abundance in their natural habitat throughout the East Atlantic coast to the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. When peppermint shrimp reach maturity, their size ranges from 1.5 to 2 inches. Peppermint shrimp can live for a few years in a healthy reef tank. rathbunae are great cleaner shrimp, they do not readily eat aiptasia. However, not all the Lysmata genus will readily eat aiptasia like L. It is very likely that members of the Lysmata genus were frequently misidentified in the aquarium trade. There is still a bit of debate surrounding the taxonomy of these shrimps. It’s easy to confuse it with another shrimp species in the Lysmata genus. They may even lose their vivid red color and become completely transparent. Simply put, they look like peppermint candy canes! However, when peppermint shrimps are stressed, they will become pale. The body is also covered in streaked red and white bands. Their exoskeleton is light reddish in color, just like the other Lysmata shrimps. Their bodies are small, no larger than a couple of inches.

boggessi have a semi-transparent appearance. Lysmata boggessi, commonly known as the peppermint shrimp, is found in the warm waters of the Florida Keys and the Gulf of Mexico. In this article, we will dive into a few reasons why peppermint shrimp are a good choice for reef tanks. These beautiful inverts can be kept in a colony of peppermint shrimp but can also be kept solo. Unlike many ornamental shrimps, the peppermint shrimp is not aggressive or territorial. Peppermint shrimp make fantastic additions for community reef tanks! The peppermint shrimp, sometimes known as a sweeper shrimp, has several advantages over other cleaner shrimps.
