Peppermint shrimp
Lysmata wurdemanni
Also known as Caribbean Peppermint Shrimp, Veined Shrimp, Candy Cane Shrimp
SaltwaterShrimp
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 72–81°F
- 22–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Adult size
- 2 in
- 5 cm
- Minimum tank
- 11 gal
- 40 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Very common
- Reef safe
- Reef safe
- Family
- Lysmatidae
- Origin
- Western Atlantic and Caribbean
Overview
A cheap, hardy, peaceful scavenger best known as natural Aiptasia control. It does well in groups and is fully compatible with fish, corals, and other inverts. If underfed it may occasionally pick at LPS such as open brain corals or acans, so keep it well fed. Keep it away from shrimp-eating predators.
In the wild
A Western Atlantic and Caribbean species that lives among rock, rubble, and reef crevices, often in small groups. In the aquarium it wants lots of live rock with caves and overhangs to shelter in during the day. It is most active at dusk and after lights out, coming out to scavenge across the rockwork and sand.
Good to know
Like other Lysmata, it is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, so groups pair and breed readily. It is one of the few reef inverts that will eat Aiptasia (glass anemones), preferring small to medium pest anemones. Note that true L. wurdemanni is frequently confused with several near-identical Lysmata species sold under the same trade name, and Aiptasia appetite varies between them.
Did you know
It is the go-to natural cure for an Aiptasia outbreak: a small group will hunt down and eat glass anemones that chemical treatments struggle to fully clear.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Peppermint shrimp is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Bumble bee snail
Engina mendicaria
Saltwater0.8 in (2 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Citron clown goby
Gobiodon citrinus
Saltwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Firefish
Nemateleotris magnifica
Saltwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
White-spot anemone shrimp
Periclimenes brevicarpalis
Saltwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Trochus snail
Trochus sp.
Saltwater1.2 in (3 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Tailspot blenny
Ecsenius stigmatura
Saltwater2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Peppermint shrimp need?
A Peppermint shrimp needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Peppermint shrimp need?
A Peppermint shrimp is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.
How big does a Peppermint shrimp get?
An adult Peppermint shrimp reaches about 2 in (5 cm).
Related species
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Fire shrimp
Lysmata debelius
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Skunk cleaner shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
2.4 in (6 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Camel / dancing shrimp
Rhynchocinetes durbanensis
2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Harlequin shrimp
Hymenocera picta
2 in (5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
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Saron marmoratus
2 in (5 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
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