Hey reef keepers! I’ve been keeping peppermint shrimp for years and lemme tell you – these little guys are some of the most interesting creatures you can add to your tank. Today I’m gonna break down everything you need to know about feeding these awesome cleaners and share some personal experiences along the way.
The Natural Diet of Peppermint Shrimp
Peppermint shrimp (Lysmata boggessi) are natural scavengers in the wild, found in the warm waters around the Florida Keys and Gulf of Mexico. In their natural habitat, these little fellows eat:
- Detritus and decomposing organic matter
- Uneaten fish food
- Aiptasia anemones (they’re famous for this!)
- Small organic particles
- Algae
Why Peppermint Shrimp Are Awesome Tank Cleaners
These shrimp are like the vacuum cleaners of your reef tank! Here’s what makes them so special:
- They’re not picky eaters
- They help control pest anemones
- They clean up leftover food
- They work mostly at night (night shift cleaners!)
- They keep your tank cleaner without much effort from you
Feeding Your Peppermint Shrimp in Captivity
Main Food Sources
In your home aquarium peppermint shrimp will naturally find food through
- Scavenging around live rock
- Cleaning up after fish feeding time
- Eating algae growth
- Munching on detritus
- Consuming aiptasia (when present)
Supplemental Feeding
Even though these guys are great scavengers, sometimes they might need a little extra help. Here’s what I’ve found works great as supplemental food:
- Frozen foods (they go crazy for these!)
- Small pellets
- Fish food flakes
- Seaweed sheets
- Sinking marine pellets
Important Feeding Tips
-
Don’t Overfeed
- A well-fed peppermint shrimp might stop eating aiptasia
- Once or twice weekly supplemental feeding is usually enough
- Watch for leftover food and adjust accordingly
-
Feeding Schedule
Morning: Let them scavenge natural foodsEvening: Small amount of supplemental food if neededNight: They're most active, so they'll find their own food -
Special Considerations
- Feed more in newer tanks with less established biofilm
- Reduce feeding if you want them to focus on aiptasia control
- Consider target feeding shy individuals
Setting Up The Perfect Feeding Environment
To ensure your peppermint shrimp get enough food, make sure your tank has:
- Plenty of live rock (for natural foraging)
- Multiple hiding spots
- Open areas for scavenging
- Stable water parameters
- Good flow but not too strong
Common Feeding Mistakes to Avoid
- Overfeeding (this is a biggie!)
- Relying only on supplemental feeding
- Not providing enough natural foraging space
- Feeding during high flow periods
- Using food too large for them to handle
My Personal Experience
In my 32-gallon biocube, I’ve found that my peppermint shrimp are super opportunistic eaters. Sometimes they’ll come right out when I’m feeding frozen foods – it’s pretty cute actually! But I’ve noticed they do just fine with minimal direct feeding as long as there’s enough natural food sources in the tank.
Health Indicators Related to Feeding
You can tell if your peppermint shrimp are getting enough food by looking for these signs:
Good Signs:
- Active movement, especially at night
- Regular molting
- Bright red stripes
- Visible foraging behavior
Warning Signs:
- Pale coloration
- Aggressive behavior toward tank mates
- Constant begging for food
- Slow growth
Quick Feeding Guide Table
| Feeding Type | Frequency | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Scavenging | Daily | N/A |
| Supplemental Food | 1-2x weekly | Small pinch |
| Target Feeding | As needed | Tiny portion |
Tips for New Peppermint Shrimp Owners
- Start with a well-established tank
- Provide lots of hiding places
- Don’t worry if you don’t see them much at first
- Watch their behavior during feeding time
- Keep water parameters stable
When to Adjust Feeding
You might need to adjust your feeding routine if:
- Your tank is new
- You have multiple shrimp
- There’s limited natural food
- You notice aggressive behavior
- The shrimp appear pale or inactive
Feeding peppermint shrimp isn’t rocket science, but it does require some attention to detail. These little guys are pretty self-sufficient when given the right environment. Remember, less is often more when it comes to supplemental feeding – they’re natural scavengers after all!
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on your peppermint shrimp during feeding time – their behavior can tell you a lot about whether they’re getting enough food naturally or need some extra supplements!
Molting of the Peppermint Shrimp
Like all invertebrates, they molt (shed the shell/exoskeleton) to grow. The smaller they are the more frequently they molt. Peppermint shrimp are very vulnerable during this process and stay hidden to avoid any predators.
Tip: Do not throw away the old shell. They will eat it later to restore calcium in the body.
Peppermint shrimp need adequate calcium supplement and trace minerals in the molting process. I highly recommend reading my article “How to Supplement Shrimp and Snails with Calcium”.
Feeding Peppermint Shrimp
The Peppermint Shrimp is omnivorous. They feed on food debris, detritus, dead fish tissue, and organic material in decomposition, etc. It is one of the types of animals that are used to clean an aquarium.
It is easy to feed them because they usually look for food in the aquarium on their own and they might not require a lot of extra food. However, you can add a piece of fresh fish or a sinking shrimp pellet every now and then. Depending on the size of your tank and the amount of fish in it, you might not have to feed it at all.
They are amazing for eating Aiptasia (glass anemones), which are considered a pest in saltwater aquariums because they reproduce quickly and sting corals and fish. Sometimes the Peppermint Shrimp will only eat the smaller anemones and ignores the big ones.
Tip: If it is your case, it means that they are not hungry enough and have something else to eat in your tank. If your intention is to include the Peppermint shrimp in your aquarium to get rid of the Aiptasia and it is not doing its job, you can add more of these shrimps in the tank.
- Marine Cuisine,
- Artemia,
- Brine Shrimp Eggs
Peppermint Shrimp Info And Care | All About The Peppermint Shrimp!
FAQ
What should I feed my peppermint shrimp?
Peppermint Shrimp are Carnivores, meaning they rely on meaty foods for their nutrition. Offer a varied diet of different meaty foods such as mysis shrimp and brine shrimp.
How do peppermint shrimp eat?
The peppermint shrimp’s dietary needs will likely be met through scavenging. In fact, peppermint shrimp that are very well fed have been known to stop eating aiptasia! The peppermint shrimp is highly sought after mainly for its feeding habits. It is a creature that feeds on detritus and aiptasia.
Do peppermint shrimp eat algae?
Yes, peppermint shrimp can eat algae, but it’s not their primary food source. They are primarily scavengers and will eat leftover food, detritus, and especially Aiptasia anemones.