Cleaner shrimp are cannibals?

[3rdMoon]

So I’m wanting to pick up a few peppermint shrimp to help stall a budding aptasia problem. The issue is both my existing cleaner shrimp are about 3” long. If I pick up a few peppermint shrimp will the much larger cleaner shrimp eat them?

 

[cloak]

How big is your tank? I don't think they'll eat them per se, but if there's not enough room to go around there might be some squabbles which eventually could lead to death. (in which case the cleaner shrimp will probably feast on the remains)

 

[Fishy212]

Do some research on the peppermints. There are many different kinds of them and most of them do not go after aptasia. If you have zoas, they are known to go after them. I am currently dealing with a small aptasia problem myself. I am doing manual spot treatments with aptasia X with mixed results. There are certain file fish, peppermint shrimp and nudibranchs that only eat aptasias.

As long as there are plenty of hiding spots for your new shrimps and your cleaner is well fed, you should not really have a problem. Good luck!

 

[3rdMoon]

How big is your tank? I don't think they'll eat them per se, but if there's not enough room to go around there might be some squabbles which eventually could lead to death. (in which case the cleaner shrimp will probably feast on the remains)

It’s a 75 gallon

 

[3rdMoon]

Do some research on the peppermints. There are many different kinds of them and most of them do not go after aptasia. If you have zoas, they are known to go after them. I am currently dealing with a small aptasia problem myself. I am doing manual spot treatments with aptasia X with mixed results. There are certain file fish, peppermint shrimp and nudibranchs that only eat aptasias.

As long as there are plenty of hiding spots for your new shrimps and your cleaner is well fed, you should not really have a problem. Good luck!

I am doing research LOL Posting on Reef2reef is part of that process. Thanks for the info