Peppermints From Hell!!!

[addictedreefer]

I recently added a large torch coral to one of my tanks. However upon checking on it 15 minutes later I was shocked to find one of my peppermint shrimp feeding on the coral. At first I figured it was just picking off waste or parasites but closer inspection showed it was feeding on the polyps themselves. This guy was really going to town, ripping off tip after tip at an astounding rate. I was then forced to tear half the tank apart in order to remove all my peppermints. My understanding had been that peppermints were a very reef safe shrimp. Is this a common experience? Or did I just have possessed shrimp?

 

[smcnally]

Are you sure they are peppermint shrimp? You may have been sold Camel Shrimp which will eat corals.

 

[smcnally]

Here's a Camel Shrimp

And here's a pep

 

[addictedreefer]

These were definately peppermints guys. I have seen camels and know their difference in appearance and behavior well. Also, my shrimp had no hump on their back and were bought from the most respectable and knowledgable lfs I know.

 

[smcnally]

If it definitely is a peppermint and it was eating the torch then I would be willing to bet something was wrong with the torch and it was eating die off. I have had lots of peppermints and always had torches and they have never touched them. I'm not saying it isn't possible, but I've personally never seen it happen.

 

[addictedreefer]

I know man the whole thing was definately really wierd. The torch was in perfect health and was already begining to show good extension and coloration after only a few minutes. The coral was thriving and had no die off whatsoever. To make things even wierder, there were numerous other lps in the tank including a hammer which have never been touched.

 

[addictedreefer]

bump... I found this whole thing so strange and unusual. I'd be interested to hear what others think as well as any similar experiences.

 

[ohsweetmadness]

I posted last week I think about my peppermints that are eating a poor rock anemone alive- pulling him apart & snacking on him. Then I put a torch in, which they picked at for a few minutes (cleaning most likely), but then left alone. I put the anemone under a bottle top to protect him and he's open and happy and has been- so he wasn't sick and everytime I take the top off they run over in a herd to start snacking again. I'm going to have to take them out of my tank as well.

Maybe there's some peppermint shrimp virus that is making them aggressive and crazy?!

 

[smcnally]

Meg, are you sure the rock anemone wasn't aiptasia? Peps do eat aiptasia.

 

[ohsweetmadness]

Definitely not aptasia Steve- thats why I originally got the peps & they definitely did a great job of getting the few aptasias I had. My gf bought the new anemone, I think they're called flower anemones as well... and when he's protected he opens right up, he eats pieces of silverside, his stomach isn't distended & he can attach to the sides of the bottle, so I'm pretty sure he's not sick.

I've just never had aggressive peps before, they've always been well behaved. I'm not sure if it's because these ones are so big and there's about 10 of them? They're constantly carrying eggs and out around the tank, it's a shame because they're cute and entertaining