Peppermint Shrimp

Peppermint shrimp is a common name used in the marine aquarium trade to describe several species of visually similar shrimp in the genus ''Lysmata''. These shrimp are popular for their scavenging and cleaning behaviour, and some are used in pest control — especially for managing outbreaks of ''Aiptasia'' anemones in reef aquaria. However, the name does not refer to a single species and has been widely misapplied within the aquarium hobby and trade.

The following species are most commonly referred to as peppermint shrimp:

* '' Lysmata boggessi'' – Considered the "true peppermint shrimp" in the aquarium trade. Native to the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic, it is the only species in this group consistently documented to consume ''Aiptasia'' anemones in both scientific studies and aquarium observations.
* ''Lysmata wurdemanni'' – Historically referred to as the peppermint shrimp, but now known to comprise a complex of cryptic species. Many individuals formerly sold under this name were actually misidentified members of other species. It is not reliably associated with ''Aiptasia'' control in reef systems.Baeza, J. A., & Prakash, S. (2019). An integrative taxonomic and phylogenetic approach reveals a complex of cryptic species in the 'peppermint' shrimp ''Lysmata wurdemanni sensu stricto''. ''Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society'', 185(4), 1018–1038. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zly084
* '' Lysmata rathbunae'' – Occasionally misidentified as a peppermint shrimp, particularly in mixed shipments. It is not known to consume ''Aiptasia'' and is not typically used for pest control.
* ''Lysmata ankeri'' and ''Lysmata bahia'' – Less common in the trade but visually similar to other peppermint shrimp. Their predatory behaviour toward ''Aiptasia'' is inconsistent or undocumented.

See also

* ''Lysmata'' – genus to which all peppermint shrimp belong
* ''Aiptasia'' – pest anemone commonly found in reef aquariums

References

{{Animal common name

Alpheoidea
Arthropod common names