The twelve shrimps of Christmas: How many shrimp do you keep in your tank?

[Peace River]

The twelve shrimps of Christmas: How many shrimp do you keep in your tank?

On the first day of Christmas,
my true love gave to me,
A peppermint shrimp
in a sea anemone.

It can be a good idea to add shrimp to your reef tank. They can be useful, entertaining, and provide something a little different to the aquarium. Depending on the purpose and who you ask there are a range of suggestions for the best number and mix of shrimp species and comparable creatures to keep in the tank. How many shrimp do you keep in your tank? Please share your experiences and any tips on the different types of shrimp that have (or have not) worked for you. Is twelve too many?!?!

Photo by @Sythero


This QOTD is sponsored by: www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com

“Dinkins Aquatic Gardens specializes in producing top-quality copepods, phytoplankton, amphipods, and berghia nudibranchs. We are a small husband-and-wife company that intensely focuses on customer service. We'd love to have you experience the Dinkins Difference!"

*The poem was developed in conjunction with generative AI.

 

[sfin52]

One my coral banded why because it won't let any other live in the tank.

 

[Starbuxxx]

I have a 150 gallon with 2 coral banded, 3 cleaner shrimp and 3-4 peppermint shrimp. I love inverts. I love that I can "overfeed" the tank and they'll take care of the rest. I never see aiptasia anymore. Cool to look at.

 

[JayM]

3 Skunk cleaners and 1 Tiger Pistol.

 

[Troylee]

1 cleaner and 5 peppermints.

 

[Dburr1014]

1 CBS I've had for 5 years and 1 fire I've had for a couple years.

 

[LadyMac]

One little pistol shrimp She has a goby sister with her so I never see them (or hardly ever) but I hear her popping away all the time. When she comes out to bulldoze I can’t help but make the noises. (Brrrrrrrrr… BEEEPBEEPBEEP! Brrrrrrr…) my husband thinks I’m crazy.

 

[SoggyCarbs]

Two cleaners that love to hang out together (trying to think of the best names for them...maybe Mary Kate and Ashley). A fire shrimp (possibly murdered my first cleaner and two peppermints). And the last of three peppermint shrimp.
Love the cleaners! I think their whiskers and little hind legs are adorable.

 

[sugar]

One cleaner shrimp, one peppermint shrimp, and one tiger pistol shrimp in my 25g! Love inverts!!

 

[kevgib67]

Two skunk cleaner shrimp. I had a blood red cleaner shrimp for almost two years when it passed. To attempts to replace it ended with an expensive meal for my wrasse.when people come over their first question is always “ what are those spider things.”

 

[Guiids]

I have a 65 gallon currently with 1 coral banded and small Sally lightfoot. Any opinions on adding a cleaner shrimp to the mix?

I really want one but would hate to have it killed both due to my negligence and for my pocketbook because of bad tank inverts. So far 1 week peaceful Sally and shrimp.

 

[Gman83]

3 Peppermint shrimp.

 

[EricR]

One skunk cleaner for me.
Cool enough critter to keep but I wouldn't want to deal with more of 'em pillaging everything all over the tank.

 

[enlighten]

5 Sexy shrimp and 1 Peppermint

 

[Seansea]

Cleaner ,fire and pistol.

 

[Cthulukelele]

1 skunk cleaner, a bumblebee shrimp, 3 peppermint shrimp, a fire shrimp, and a tiger pistol shrimp.

I know it's the choice everyone makes, but skunk cleaner shrimp are absolutely my favorite shrimp I've kept. They have big personalities, they're fearless, they're super active, and they'll clean most fish that get close and ask for it. IMO any tank that doesn't have large shrimp eating fish in it isn't complete until it has a skunk cleaner shrimp.

 

[paragrouper]

Three peppermints

 

[duran760]

None they eat acans just like emerald crabs eat zoas

 

[PizzaIan339]

None as of now but I am planning to add a peppermint maybe a cleaner and maybe a candy cane pistol

 

[exnisstech]

A single skunk cleaner in one tank. A blood red fire and two peppermint in another tank. I'm really surprised at how pretty an adult peppermint looks. All I had ever seen were young pale colored ones. My two have matured into a nice dark color and are large.
EDIT to add images