peppermint shrimp

Scientific Name : Lysmata wurdemanni

Common Names : Candy Cane Shrimp, Caribbean Cleaner Shrimp, Veined Shrimp

Care Level : Easy

Size : Up to 2 inches (5 cm)

Life span : 2 years or longer

pH : 8.1 - 8.4

Temperature : 75°F - 82°F (25°C - 28°C)

Specific Gravity : 1.023 - 1.025

Carbonate Hardness (dKH) : 8 - 12°

Origin / Habitat : Caribbean, East Atlantic, Florida

Temperament / Behavior : This is a fairly peaceful shrimp that might make a nice addition to a peaceful tank. They may not be acceptable in a reef tank because they sometimes pick at and steal food from your corals.

Breeding / Mating / Reproduction : This shrimp species is successfully being aquacultured and raised commercially. They are hermaphrodites and it can be very difficult to raise the larvae through the various stages of development.

Tank Size : 10 gallon (38 liters) minimum

Compatible Tank Mates : They may scrap with other invertebrates in the same tank but they may do fine with other Peppermint Shrimps. Obviously, you don't want to keep them with much larger fish species that could eat them. Not considered as efficient as the skunk cleaner shrimp when it comes to cleaning fish.

Diet / Fish Food : This shrimp is an aiptasia eater and will also scavenge around the tank looking for bits and pieces. Make sure they are getting enough to eat. Give them a sinking shrimp pellet or sinking tiny pieces of fresh fish.

Tank Region : Tends to hang out on the live rock in the tank and seldom ventures far from it's chosen territory in the aquarium. You may be able to get them out of hiding once food hits the water.

Gender : Hermaphrodites