Peppermint Shrimp

About

Peppermint shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni) are probably best known for doing a job most other invertebrates refuse. Tracking down and consuming aiptasia, the small glass anemones that can take over a reef tank and sting corals into oblivion. That reputation alone has made them a staple in saltwater setups for decades. Native to the western Atlantic and Caribbean, these small shrimp sport a translucent body overlaid with red and white striping, which gives rise to the candy stripe nickname. In the wild they tend to shelter in rocky crevices and rubble zones, often gathering in loose groups, and they carry that social comfort into captivity. Keeping a few together rather than a single specimen tends to produce more relaxed, visible animals. They are also simultaneous hermaphrodites, meaning any two mature individuals can pair up and breed, and captive breeding does happen with some regularity, though raising the larvae is a genuine challenge. For general reef compatibility they are considered quite safe around most corals and fish, and their tolerances are forgiving enough that they rank as a solid beginner invertebrate. They will also pick up uneaten food and debris, adding a bit of general scavenging to their pest-control credentials.