What Is The Easiest Shrimp To Breed In A Saltwater Aquarium?
If you have ever stood there, gazing at those lively candy cane-patterned crustaceans moving around on your live rocks back and forth, you may be surprised to know that breeding peppermint shrimp is not only possible, it is an exciting challenge and also an enjoyable hobby!
The Simplest Shrimp To Breed
Peppermint shrimp (also known as Candy Cane Shrimp) are more than being known for its natural ability to manage nuisance Aiptasia, or glass anemones - they are also the easiest reef-safe saltwater shrimp to breed inside aquariums. Plus, these unique species are rather eye-catchers in your coral reefs!
Peppermint shrimp are the backbone of the ocean, keeping the ecosystem running. As mentioned, they are natural pest control workers, who regularly eat up Aiptasia anemones that cause problems and pick up dying plant materials besides serving as fish "cleaning stations" by removing dead skin and parasites. Their popularity in the aquarium trade has led to intense harvesting, making aquarium hobbyist breeding not only an interesting project, but also an important conservation effort.
How To Set Up Your Breeding Operation
Having the proper set up is the first step to achieving success in breeding shrimp. Peppermint shrimp are, by nature, very competitive when it comes to their food competition and can be quite aggressive towards one another. So, when you start out, don’t get your hopes up on a 100% survival rate in the first round of your shrimp breeding journey. A good rule of thumb is to add more to the breeding tank than you need as later you can finally cull the numbers. For example, if you have a 20-gallon breeding tank, start it with 4-6 shrimp.
Creating a perfect breeding environment is a craft that requires precision and attention to detail. Your breeding tank is more than a container - it is a complex ecosystem that is designed to mimic the delicate conditions the shrimp experience in their natural reef habitat
Water flow is one of the key components in the successful breeding of peppermint shrimp. We suggest investing in a high-quality circulation pump, such as the VorTech MP40mQD
or the VorTech MP60mQD to create a controlled and circular water movement. These pumps provide adequate water flow necessary for breeding and also effective at enriching the water with oxygen which is necessary for the well-being of your shrimp.
Precise aquarium heating is also key. We recommend opting for professional-level aquarium heaters like the Eheim Jäger Thermostat Heater or the Finnex Watt Heater Temperature Controller. These provide:
- Precise temperature control
- High efficiency
- Reliable heating elements that maintain stable and consistent temperature
Substrate choice is equally crucial. We suggest selecting a fine, aragonite sand that looks like the natural reefs your shrimp are familiar with. Live rock is the cornerstone of your breeding tank. Go for high-quality, cured live rock sourced from dependable suppliers. Each piece of rock should be cleaned and free from potential hitchhikers and parasites.
Adding rock provides:
- Important hiding places
- Biological filtration
- Natural grazing points
- Territorial boundaries
Water Parameters & Maintenance
Give your breeding tank the same kind of care you give to your show tank. This starts with maintaining proper water quality. You should be regularly testing the water, completing water changes, and maintaining stable parameters. These points will make the difference between a growing breeding colony and a failure.
Nutrition is also a major aspect. Feed your shrimp colony a varied, enriched, and balanced diet every day. This improves both their health and breeding success rates.
Shrimp Reproduction
Breeding peppermint Shrimp is a waiting game, but it is filled with interesting biological processes. Egg-carrying periods can vary dramatically from 10 to 60 days depending on colony dynamics, tank conditions, and individual shrimp characteristics.
If you are wondering when the eggs will hatch - you can tell the eggs are ready to hatch when they turn a silvery color. We recommend having a plan ready to transfer the larvae before this stage. Some breeders catch parent shrimp before larval release, while others use creative methods like using a flashlight to attract and carefully scoop larvae.
Rearing Shrimp Larvae
The larval rearing tank requires a near-scientific level of management. This is where epic aquarium tech meets biological management!
Inside the larval tank, you will want to buy a high-quality airstone System. Remember that it is extremely important that the flow is gentle and consistent to promote larvae's growth. A violent bubble storm could easily damage your delicate shrimp.
The water quality is the dominant factor and proper management is of the utmost importance. We suggest the following essential aquarium equipment:
- Apply a digital salinity refractometer for precise measurements
- Utilize a good RO water filtration system
- Invest in a digital thermometer having an alarm system that detects temperature changes
After that, brine shrimp will quickly become your primary focus. Try to develop a dedicated hatching place. This will help make larvae harvesting easier, provide consistent hatching rates, and ensure you have clean and nutrient-rich brine shrimp.
When replacing water, accuracy should be your motto. A high-quality dosing pump like the Ecotech Marine Versa VX-1 provides continuous dosing, ensuring a consistent volume, and therefore minimizing larval stress.
Nutrition is the major problem encountered by newbie breeders. We suggest providing the following:
- Instant Algae products for phytoplankton enrichment
- Professional-grade vitamin supplements specifically designed for marine larvae
- Variety packs of frozen marine foods for later larval stages
From Larvae To Shrimp
Observing Peppermint shrimp larvae growing is as if a marine metamorphosis was taking place right before you. Within the first days, they will be blind (eyeless in fact!). Over the next couple of days, you will see them developing eye stalks and growing in size.
Between day 6 and 7 they experience an extreme transformation – their legs grow paddle-like extensions, a stage that is demanding and often sees increased mortality rates. Between days 40 and 65, the larval stage is finished and they metamorphose into a tiny shrimp. They will be roaming on tank surfaces, gradually obtaining their characteristic red, and pink coloration.
Final Thoughts
Breeding Peppermint shrimp is the journey of discovery even more than a hobby. Another thing to always have in mind is never being too hard on yourself and it is a fact that every single success in breeding the fish indicates that some part of the marine ecosystem thrives and a testament to your skills as a reef hobbyist.
If you would like to learn more about breeding shrimp or what equipment we recommend, contact the Reefco Team today. Happy reefing!
