Is this a peppermint shrimp?

kchristensen8064 · Aug 22, 2018

So I bought a couple of Peppermint shrimp about a week ago. This guy was sold to me as such. It molted the day after I got it and looked the exact same after the molt as it did before. I'm asking the question because it does not look like any other Peppermint that I've seen before. The pattern is much different and it's way lighter in color than the ones I typically see. I know there are a lot of different species of Peppermint but through all my searches and posting up on my local forum the second picture is the closest that I've been able to find. But not many people are importing from the pacific so it makes that one seem an unlikely candidate...

DeniseAndy · Aug 22, 2018

Not the type that are specific aiptasia eaters, but a type of peppermint if you are using the genus as the clarification.

kchristensen8064 · Aug 22, 2018

DeniseAndy said:
Not the type that are specific aiptasia eaters, but a type of peppermint if you are using the genus as the clarification.

I bought the pair for the purpose of eating aiptasia, unfortunately I ended up with this one. If it is in fact the type in the second picture, I've read that they are aiptasia eaters as well.

cloak · Aug 22, 2018

It looks a little different than the one I have, but it just might eat some Aiptasia if the cards are right though. (along with some other things) Definitely keep an eye on it. GL.

cristata.reef · Aug 22, 2018

L. kuekenthali has been documented to eat Aiptasia on occasion. Problems exist when people confuse them for other types of similar shrimp. The true peppermint shrimp, L. wurdemanni is part of a species complex of several identical species. Yours should act as a cleaner primarily but may also eat aiptasia but it's really hit or miss

kchristensen8064 · Aug 22, 2018

Sonofives said:
L. kuekenthali has been documented to eat Aiptasia on occasion. Problems exist when people confuse them for other types of similar shrimp. The true peppermint shrimp, L. wurdemanni is part of a species complex of several identical species. Yours should act as a cleaner primarily but may also eat aiptasia but it's really hit or miss

I'll just have to keep an eye on it. I don't have any coral in the tank. It's eventually going to be an anemone tank with a pair of clowns. I just thought it was quite odd how different this one is.