Cave Shrimp
(Stenopus pyrsonotus)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 3″
Color Form: Red, White
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Hawaii
Family: Stenopodidae
Swim Level: Middle to Bottom

The Cave Shrimp, also known as the Ghost Boxing Shrimp, has a white body and legs, with a red stripe covering the back of the body. Members of the Stenopodidae are called “Boxing Shrimp” because of the large pinchers on their third set of legs. They often hold these pinchers erect, giving the appearance of a boxer ready to fight. These shrimp are collected from very deep water, where they inhabit overhangs and caves. In the wild, they serve as a cleaning service for fish as they will climb upon the fish and remove parasites from their body.

Sufficient room should be provided in the aquarium to allow the Cave Shrimp to move without its long antennae touching neighboring corals or anemones. These shrimp must be kept singly, or as a true-mated pair, being intolerant of others of the same species. It may also harass other smaller shrimp of different species. It is relatively hardy, but must be acclimated slowly to avoid any salinity and/or pH shock. It is intolerant of high nitrates or copper levels, and the aquarium should be supplemented with iodine to promote proper molting.

Breeding the Cave Shrimp is usually not successful. Larvae are generally destroyed by filtration and skimming.

In the wild, the Cave Shrimp feeds on parasites, dead tissue removed from fish, and other tiny organisms. In the home aquarium, it will accept most flaked and frozen foods, plankton, and meaty items.

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Clown Mantis Shrimp
(Odontodactylus scyllarus)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Aggressive
Reef Compatible: No
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 6″
Color Form: Blue, Green, Red
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Gonodactylidae
Swim Level: Bottom

The Clown Mantis Shrimp, also referred to as the Peacock Mantis Shrimp, is included in the Smashing Mantis Shrimp group. They are very interesting shrimp that resemble the praying mantis insect. They have large colorful eyes that are either blue or green rimmed and their bodies exhibit many bright colors. The main part of the body is green with red outlines on the shell. These are extremely aggressive shrimp that should be housed alone in a species aquarium.

The Clown Mantis Shrimp should be housed in an aquarium that is devoted to this species. Only one shrimp should be kept in the aquarium. They have very quick claws that they use to break the shell of crustaceans and crabs. They should not be housed with fish or other invertebrates, unless they are very large, and caution should still be exercised. A sandy bottom with plenty of rubble and at least one piece of live rock should be provided for these shrimp to create a cave.

The diet of a Clown Mantis Shrimp should include live feeder fish, crabs and frozen meaty foods such as fish, scallop and shrimp.

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Sexy Anemone Shrimp
(Thor amboinensis)
QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 1½”
Color Form: Black, Red, Tan, White
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Indo-Pacific, Indonesia
Family: Hippolytidae
Swim Level: Middle to Bottom

The Sexy Anemone Shrimp is named for its unusual body movements. When walking, Thor amboinensis sways its abdomen back and forth with exotic flair. In addition to this fascinating behavior, the Sexy Anemone Shrimp is also uniquely dressed in a reddish brown body dotted with brilliant white spots. These characteristics make the Sexy Anemone Shrimps an enchanting aquarium addition.

Native to the reefs of the Indo-Pacific, this member of the Hippolytidae family is usually found amongst the tentacles of an anemone. In the home aquarium, however, the Sexy Anemone Shrimp is often found perched on a coral frag or outcropping of live rock. Most are equally fearless as they are beautiful and will scavenge in any area of the aquarium in search of meaty foods.

For best care, the Sexy Anemone Shrimp should be kept in small groups and fed a varied diet of plankton and flaked, frozen, and meaty foods. It is peaceful towards members of its own species and other tankmates. The Sexy Anemone Shrimp should not be housed in aquariums with predatory fish that might attack these small shrimp.

Interestingly, the Sexy Anemone Shrimp is a relatively fast grower and will molt about once a month. However, most Sexy Anemone Shrimp will grow only to a maximum size of around 1-1/2″. Although very hardy, it requires a slow acclimation process to avoid any salinity and/or pH shock. Like other invertebrates, the Sexy Anemone Shrimp cannot tolerate high nitrate or copper levels. To promote proper molting, sufficient iodine levels must be maintained.

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Tiger Pistol Shrimp
(Alpheus bellulus)
QUICK STATS
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 3″
Color Form: Red, White
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Eastern Asia, Sri Lanka
Family: Alpheidae

The Tiger Pistol Shrimp may also be called Symbiosis Shrimp and Snapping Shrimp. The body is tan with rust colored broken stripes running across the back. These beneficial shrimp will constantly move gravel making them excellent sand stirrers in the reef aquarium, as well as scavenging any uneaten food.

The sound it makes comes from an appendage on the pincher which moves when the pincher is opened or closed and water is ejected. The Pistol Shrimp can be easily confused with Mantis Shrimp if judged by sound only. Unlike the Mantis Shrimp, it is not harmful and will not pose any threat in the tank, with the possible exception of very small shrimp.

The name Symbiotic Shrimp comes from the equally beneficial relationship the Pistol Shrimp has with gobies (e.g. Amblyeleotris or Stonogobiops). The goby, with better eyesight, warns the shrimp of predators. The shrimp share its food with the goby.

Tiger Pistol Shrimp thrive in environments with sand, rock caves, and dim light. If in pairs, one will often stand guard at the burrow while the other is inside. The Pistol Shrimp are intolerant of copper or high nitrate levels, but need a correct level of iodine in the water to promote proper molting.

Pistol Shrimp will accept any meaty freeze-dried and frozen foods and bottom feeder tablets.

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Red Banded Pistol Shrimp
(Alpheus randalli)
QUICK STATS
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Reef Compatible: Yes
Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, sg 1.023-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4
Max. Size: 2″
Color Form: Red
Diet: Carnivore
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Family: Alpheidae

The Red Banded Pistol Shrimp and its cousins all have a unique left pincher. The pincher is modified to produce a loud sound and stream of water whenever it is opened or closed. In the aquarium, it sounds like a loud clicking noise.

Startling for the aquarist, it uses this skill in the wild to warn away predators and to knock down prey. The Red Banded Pistol Shrimp and its mate will usually reside in a burrow of sand or mud, often with one of the gobies of the genera Amblyeleotris or Stonogobiops. The goby’s superior eyesight also gives it advance warning of any predators. They also tend to share some of each other’s food.

While the shrimp are in the burrow, you will usually only see one of them “standing guard” at any one time. Under the cover of darkness it is likely to forage, occasionally preying on tiny shrimp. Otherwise, it will subsist on meaty foods and bottom feeder tablets in the aquarium. It is intolerant of copper or high nitrates, but will require a correct iodine level in the water for proper molting.

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