Which is a Peppermint Shrimp?

[Centrek]

I have some, well actually a bunch, of aptasia in my tank, and heard that peppermint shrimp eat them...well, I've heard of 3 different shrimp being called "peppermint shrimp." Which is the one that I want to get??

 

#1?

 

#2?

in addition to peppermint, i've also heard it called a skunk cleaner

 

#3?

in addition to peppermint, i've also heard this one called a coral banded shrimp

 

 

Thanks!!

[mattdog]

#1 is a peppermint

#2 is a cleaner

#3 is a coral banded

[Metznreef]

#1 is the peppermint

#2 is the skunk cleaner

#3 is the coral banded

 

by the way, pepper mint shrimp only handle small aiptasia, your gonna have to take care of the big ones;)

[ricknbecky]

I have also read that there are two species of pepermint shrimp that look very similar and are sold under that name they both look like your pic#1. however it is only the carribean species that will feed on the aptasia.

[Glenn]

ricknbecky is right there are two different ones. Here is an article that will help you to tell which is which:

 

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/marine/inverts/...pepshrpfaqs.htm

[printerdown01]

Not only that, camels -or "hinge back shrimp"- are often sold as peps (and when the shrimp are teeny it is even harder to tell the difference if you are not familiar with the differences). I don't really see the similarity, save the fact that they are both red and white : ....

Camel:

best pic of a pep I could find:

....some of the pep photos out there are terrible!

[Centrek]

wonderful,

thank you all for your help and reading material,

i'll go see if there are any of those at the lfs later today