[rjs5134]

How tolerant are fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp and peppermint shrimp of one another? Could 1 of each be kept comfortably in a 65 gallon tank?

Rob

[Ninong]

All three, assuming I am guessing correctly as to your meaning of the term "cleaner shrimp," are members of the same genus, Lysmata. They are not particularly aggressive but they are territorial. Their respective territories are reasonably small, at least the areas they will defend in an aquarium are reasonably small.

However, I would suggest that a pair (meaning any two individuals) of the same species, or even two pairs of different species, would be a more interesting way to go. The three shrimp you are proposing adding as individual specimens (Lysmata amboinensis, L. debelius and L. wurdemanni) will not interbreed. If you add two L. amboinensis, they will get it on on a regular basis and every week one of them will be delivering babies. The same with either of the other two species you are asking about. That's because they will adjust their molting schedules to maximize opportunities for reproduction. It takes approximately two weeks from coupling to release of the baby shrimp. The baby shrimp will be enthusiastically devoured by the other inhabitants of your aquarium.

The most aggressive of the ornamental shrimp that are commonly available in the hobby are the Stenopus hispidus (Banded Coral Shrimp) and I would avoid mixing those with Lysmata spp. in a 65-gal tank. Also, this species is not hermaphroditic and if you put two males together, they will literally tear each other limb from limb until one or both are dead.

[rjs5134]

Thanks Ninong, I'm not really planning on adding all 3 to the tank, just curious about their compatibility. I will probably be getting a skunk cleaner shrimp for now, peppermint shrimp if I one day find signs of aptasia. The idea of a pair breeding as a supplemental food source is pretty interesting though.

Thanks.