Peppermint Shrimp

About

The peppermint shrimp (Lysmata boggessi) is one of the most practically useful invertebrates a reef keeper can add to a saltwater tank. Hailing from the western Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, it has a translucent pinkish-white body overlaid with bold red stripes, giving it that candy-cane look that makes it easy to identify at the fish store. What really sets this shrimp apart from decorative species is its appetite for Aiptasia, the glass anemones that sneak into reef tanks on live rock and frag plugs and can quickly take over if left unchecked. A small group of peppermint shrimp will methodically work through an Aiptasia problem that would otherwise require chemical intervention. They are largely peaceful toward fish and corals, though a few individuals do develop a taste for coral polyps, so it is worth keeping an eye on things after introduction. Like most Lysmata shrimp, they are simultaneous hermaphrodites and will breed readily in captivity, releasing tiny larvae that rarely survive in a typical reef without dedicated effort. Generally considered a solid choice for newer saltwater keepers, they are hardy, useful, and reasonably priced.