Why don't Coral Banded & Peppermint mix?

[robshippy]

I was just reading through another post about removing unwanted Aiptasia
Anemones. What caught my attention was a reply by Greg. Greg says
that a three year old Coral Banded & a Peppermint Shrimp may not do so
well together. I just bought a Coral banded shrimp about two weeks ago.
Then I bought a Peppermint Shrimp about 1 week ago. The two are
about the same size (I don't know if size makes any difference or not). I
have noticed some aggression by the Coral Banded. However, its
aggression was toward my Zebra Moray. The Coral Banded likes to jab
at the Zebra's head when it gets too close. So my question is, "What are
the chances that this Peppermint Shrimp is going to survive in my tank?"
The tank is nearly 200G with lots of live rock. The Peppermint Shrimp
hides pretty good. I usually can't find the Peppermint when looking for it.
Thank you.

-Rob

[Raszagil]

Hi Robshippy!

Well, you have a large tank, so there's a good possibility that the pepperment shrimp will be able to avoid the more aggressive coral banded shrimp.

There is always a chance that your pepperment might end up on the losing side of an attack, though. Coral banded shrimp get pretty large. I saw a pair of these shrimp at the college's 240 gallon reef, and they sure didn't take any crap from the other reef residents. Beautiful shrimp...

Sara

[tdwyatt]

Uh ohhhhhhhh..... Adios Senior minty-fresh-shrimp!!!! The peppermint will prolly end up being on the short end of a fight for territory by the CBS, even in 12 sq feet of tank floor. Personally, I would return the coral banded strimp, as the peppermint will consume aiptasia and occasionally display cleaner behavior. Good luck trying to catch them in the rockwork.

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Tom <"{{{{>(
(TDWyatt)
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -Plato

[Ninong]

Rob,

The Coral Banded Shrimp will become more and more aggressive as it gets larger. The Peppermint Shrimp can only survive by keeping out of the way. Sooner or later, the CBS will catch up with the Peppy and eliminate it (especially at molting time).

In fact, a large CBS can be one of the most dominant critters in the tank, bar none.

Ninong

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Irrational Exuberance!

[Nathan]

I agree with Ninong.