Which to keep
 

I have two peppermint shrimp in my tank. They have been in there since I set it up. They crawl on my hand when I have maintenance to do or coral to move. They eat well and I imagine they do their part to keep me aiptasia free and eat any excess food.

However, last night I was very excited to get a two-head frag of golden torch coral. It will be my first truly flowing piece. The color is just awesome and I am very excited about this coral. I acclimated it while I was watching a movie and was all ready to plant it on my rocks. I picked out a nice secure location and stuck the base of the coral into my rocks. Snug. Very proud of myself I was drying my hands and admiring the new coral. Along comes Mr. Peppermint.

The shrimp proceeds to start SHREDDING the torch. He ripped about three arms clean out and started eating them before I could get my hands in the tank to shoo him away. I saved the coral by placing it in a piece of clear plasticware with small holes in it for water circulation.

The question is: keep the shrimp because they do an amazing job of aquarium clean-up, are active, have been in the system for a long time, and my girlfriend loves them, or get rid of the shrimp so I can have this beautiful piece of torch coral.

Short version: two peppermint shrimp versus one torch coral. Which stays?

Torch!!! lol

I would trade the Peps in for Cleaner shrimp :)

I really do like the torch frag. Awesome color. I was thinking sexy shrimp. But the ones I have seen are so tiny.

Torch corals are awesome! I love mine and how it flows in the gentle breeze.

http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/...f/IMG_0053.jpg

Lose the shrimp. Aiptasia can easily be controlled with kalk paste or aiptasia-x if it ever turns up. Until you get the shrimp out, you can use a clean cup or bowl to protect the coral.

I had one start ripping Xenia apart. I'd go with the torch.

Sidenote: Warning, don't leave your shrimp trap unattended very long if you are going to get rid of it and you have fish. Don't ask me how I know. I'm still not talking about it. :mad:

Wow man, your corals arms look super long. Very nice.

Aiptasia-x works well in my experience. The infestation got to a point that I couldn't reach some of the critters to dose them.

The torch is currently living comfortably in a clear plastic bowl with small holes in it floating and anchored in the tank. Safe until I remove the shrimp.