{"product_id":"peppermint-shrimp-lysmata-vittata","title":"Peppermint Shrimp | Lysmata vittata","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Peppermint Shrimp earns its keep by eating nuisance Aiptasia anemones, then scavenges leftovers around the rockwork. Peaceful, hardy and inexpensive — a genuinely useful little reef worker.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLysmata vittata is an Indo-Pacific species, ranging from East Africa through South-East Asia to northern Australia and New Zealand. It shelters in rock crevices and rubble by day and comes out to forage at night. Provide live rock with plenty of nooks where it can hide and work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA slim, translucent body finely striped in red over a clear-to-pinkish base, with delicate long antennae. Adults reach around 3–4 cm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and sociable — best kept in small groups, which also improves Aiptasia control. Generally reef safe, though the odd individual may sample soft coral polyps or zoanthids, so it is reef safe with caution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA carnivore and scavenger. It picks at Aiptasia and leftovers, and should also be offered mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood and pellets. Reliable Aiptasia control is best with several shrimp working together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eKeep in a stable reef of at least 40 litres with good water quality. Invertebrates are intolerant of copper and dislike rapid salinity change, so drip-acclimate over an hour or more. Stable iodine and calcium support healthy moulting; leave the shed shell for the shrimp to eat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA protandric simultaneous hermaphrodite that pairs readily and carries eggs often; the larvae are among the easier Lysmata to rear, though still a project needing separate culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLysmata vittata\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeppermint Shrimp\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIndo-Pacific, including northern Australia\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–4 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.5–2 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 litres or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore – Aiptasia, meaty foods \u0026amp; scavenged scraps\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–27 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8.1–8.4\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1.023–1.025 SG\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef and fish-only marine aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWith caution – may sample soft coral polyps or zoanthids\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (marine)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful reef fish, other reef-safe shrimp, snails, hermit crabs and most corals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eShrimp predators — hawkfish, lionfish, larger wrasses, triggers and puffers — and prized zoanthid or soft-coral collections if you want zero risk of nipping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAustralian marine livestock for in-store collection or local delivery. Drip-acclimate all new invertebrates and never expose them to copper-based medications.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: the Caribbean Lysmata wurdemanni is not available in Australia. The peppermint shrimp supplied here is the Indo-Pacific Lysmata vittata, which fills the same role in a reef tank.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55234109178147,"sku":"AA2552","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/peppermint-shrimp.jpg?v=1781501750","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/peppermint-shrimp-lysmata-vittata","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}