When do pep shrimps start eating aptasia?

[Paradox]

Hello, I just purchased a peppermint shrimp in an attempt to reduce my aptasia, but it just sits in one place doing this shrimp dance. How long does it take for them to begin eating the aptasia? Its been about 4 days.

Also, Im pretty sure its not a camel back, since it does not have a hump and is a little more translucent.

Thanks!!

[Jeremy1973]

Not all peps will eat aptasia. But give him time, he is scoping out the terrain...learning what dangers there might be, picking out "its" spot. You are lucky you see him. Some, when they add peps, don't see them for a week. Patience young padowan!

[Mkelly]

I have six that I rarely see. They are largely nocturnal he'll eat at night.

[uryy4me]

I added 15 on Wed, well make that 14 a Lunar wrasse made a snack out of one as it drifter on to rock I seem to add about that many every 6 months or so, not sure if they do any good but I am fearful that if I don't continue to add them I'll notice their missing in a way I would rather not

[Paradox]

Thanks for the responses. I did do a lot of recent changes in the tank so hes probably not settled yet. I only purchased 1, to see if they actually will eat the stuff. I have a 50 gallon though so I wont need to dump 15 in.

[hayday]

in a 50 gallon tank, you could have three or four peppermints. i'd actually recommend adding at least a second one since shrimp are hermaphroditic- one will change genders meaning lots 'o shrimp eggs floating in the tank. think free food! for the tank, not for you.

it can sometimes take a bit for them to start eating the aiptasia polyps. give him a coupla weeks to settle in and get used to his new home. i remember with mine (i started with three but one disappeared instantly, never to be seen again) it seemed like a month went by and i'd catch the ocassional glimpse of one from behind a rock. then, all of a sudden, i noticed that a rock that was once an aiptasia patch had been picked clean.

now, my peppermints climb onto my hands whenever i'm doing any in-tank work. i love these guys.

-hayday