Peppermint Shrimp

Reproduction and How Changes in the Environment Affect Shrimp

Why did we choose the shrimp?It’s different

They’re like pets

You can touch them without them running away (unlike those of you who chose fish)

We didn’t know much about them and we wanted to learn more

Background

Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata Wurdemanni)Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ArthrapodaSubphylum: CrustaceaClass: MalacostracaOrder: DecapodaFamily: HippolytidaeGenus: LysmataSpecies: Lysmata Wurdemanni

http://www.mbisite.org/Forums/tm.aspx?m=60828

Background

- Are born as males- However they molt 4 times and have the ability to

become a female after a molt- Hermaphrodite- Tank cleaners- Eat dead organisms and parasites off of other

organisms- Moslty found in Atlantic Coast of U.S.- Nocturnal

Research QuestionsCan L. wurdemanni be trained?

Will dipping their tentacles into fresh water prevent them from finding a source of food nearby?

Will 6 L. wurdemanni reproduce in a 50 gallon tank?

What can we change/add/remove from the tank to make a better place for reproduction and life?

How often do the L. wurdemanni lay eggs? Will we be able to monitor who is laying eggs?

Research Questions

Can L. wurdemanni be trained?

http://www.amazon.com/

Research Questions

Will dipping their tentacles into fresh water prevent them from finding a source of food nearby?

Research Questions

Will 6 L. wurdemanni reproduce in a 50 gallon tank?

Research Questions

What can we change/add/remove from the tank to make a better place for reproduction and life?

http://www.cleanfish.com/

Research Questions

How often do the L. wurdemanni lay eggs? Will we be able to monitor who is laying eggs?

www.reefsafe.co.uk

Background Research

April Kirkendoll How to Raise & Train Your Peppermint Shrimp Second Edition 2008

Porter Betts Behavior and Breeding of Peppermint Shrimp 2014

Saltwater Aquarium 101 -- The Basics

Boston Reefers -- Learning from others who have peppermint shrimp

Hypothesis

By blinding, controlling the diet of, and training the L. wurdemanni we will be able to change their baseline behavior of reproduction, finding food, and behavior around humans.

Research Plan

Invert Tank → Tank 7

Our goal was to watch how peppermint shrimp behaved and ultimatley raise their larvae if they ever reproduced

Daily Tests: Ph, Temperature, Salinity

New Arrival (10/30/14)

Staying Together (10/30/14)

They Love to Hide (10/30/14)

Being Fed Video

Cleaning the Tank (11/30/14)

Becoming Familiar With Human Interactions (11/30/14)

Maturing (11/30/14)

The New Tank 7 (1/30/15)

Hiding in New Tank (1/23/15)

Marking its Territory (1/30/15)

Climbing on Hands (3/26/15)

Speed Test Video

Research Questions

Can L. wurdemanni be trained?

Yes, but it takes a lot of time and constant attention.- Shrimp slowly became more comfortable- Responded well to human hands- Trust- Our hands would have to be within 5 inches of them- Respond fondly to food

Research Questions

Will dipping their tentacles into fresh water prevent them from finding a source of food nearby?

Unkown- We did not run this test because when we did research we heard from

other reefers that this is potentially very dangerous and can cause cells to explode (http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?2907-Don-t-freshwater-dip-shrimp)

- We didn’t want to take the risk

Research Questions

Will 6 L. wurdemanni reproduce in a 50 gallon tank?

Yes, however ours did not- We were not able to spot eggs- Do not know why they wouldn’t reproduce- Last week a shrimp in the frag tank was spotted with

eggs

Research Questions

What can we change/add/remove from the tank to make a better place for reproduction and life?

Manipulation of environment made them uncomfortable.- Love to hide- Moved rocks to make them more visible- Changing homes- Did not induce reproduction- Older vs. Newer Shrimp

Research Questions

How often do the L. wurdemanni lay eggs? Will we be able to monitor who is laying eggs?

We were able to spot eggs, and we were not able to single out 1 shrimp from the other- Can tell difference between large and small- Begin to look the same as they mature

Were we right?

By blinding, controlling the diet of, and training the L. wurdemanni we will be able to change their baseline behavior of reproduction, finding food, and behavior around humans.

We were right in terms of training the shrimp.We were wrong in the terms that we could encourage reproduction.

Conclusion

Sadly, our plan was never ready for action because our shrimp never reproduced

If we had more time:We would wait for them to reproduce and try to raise the larvae using April Kirkendoll’s book

Bibliography101-Saltwater-Aquarium. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2014. <http://www.101-saltwater-aquarium.com/others-care-information/peppermint-shrimp.php>.Betts, Porter. Feature Article: Behavior And Breeding Of Peppermint Shrimp. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. Web. 2 Oct. 2014. <http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/4/aafeature>Boston Reefers. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2014. <http://www.bostonreefers.org/forums/showthread.php?2907-Don-t-freshwater-dip-shrimp>.Fishlore. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2014. <http://www.fishlore.com/how-to-raise-train-peppermint-shrimp.htm>.Kirkendoll, April. How to Raise & Train Your Peppermint Shrimp Second Edition. 2nd ed. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.Marshall, Michael. Zoologger: Shrimp plays chicken with its sex change. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.Saltwater Fish. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2014. <http://forums.saltwaterfish.com/index.php?threads/peppermint-shrimp-vs-anemone.306753/>.3 Reef. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 Oct. 2014. <http://www.3reef.com/threads/freshwater-dip-how-to.62138/>.Whitby, Paul. "Pests, Parasites And Things That Go Munch In The Night, Part 1." Reef keeping Magazine: n. pag. Print.