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My Shrimp
I find shrimp colorful and
interesting additions to tank. As I
am probably way past max # of fish
in tank. Shrimp are about the only
thing I can add without dramatically
increasing bioload.
I don't like crabs after having some
bad experiences with them in past.
Won't be any kind in my tank.
They are great fish and tank
cleaners. Eating parasites off fish
and cleaning up excess food in tank.
They are hardy, get along well
together, and are fairly "reef
safe." (if there is such a thing???
-
)
As of now, the following shrimp
inhabit my tanks.
Main:
(1) Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
(1) Coral Banded Shrimp
(2) Blood/Fire Shrimp
(2) Harlequin Shrimp
(4) Peppermint Shrimp
(?) Pistol Shrimp
Nano:
(1) Blood/Fire Shrimp
(1) Coral Banded Shrimp
The Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Pretty cool shrimp. Least shy of
different ones. Will set itself up
in top of rock to act as a "cleaning
station" for fish to stop by at to
have any parasites eaten off. Often
seen swimming around tank upside
down (?).
Blood ShrimpLysmata debelius
Very shy but beautiful shrimp. Stays
hidden under rock ledges most of the
time. Only come out at feeding time.
If 4/5 in tank, they apparently will
stay out in open more. (re.
Tangster) This shrimp is well-known
for its deep red color, so the name
"Blood Shrimp" is quite appropriate.
The white antennae and a few spots
here and there make them look even
better. (aka "Scarlet Cleaner
Shrimp). Will clean, as I have
observed in nano.
Banded Coral ShrimpStenopus hispidus
Another great looking, but shy
shrimp. Come out usually only at
feeding time. Banded Coral Shrimp
can also be found in mated pairs,
and occasionally you may find such a
pair for sale together. In this
case, the two were collected
together and shipped together, etc.
and will stay together peacefully in
your aquarium. However, it is
practically impossible to buy two of
these shrimp separately and get them
to pair up in a tank. They don’t
like each other at all, and
certainly can’t be kept in groups.
The bigger one(s) will kill the
smaller one(s) until there is only
one left, unless you have a really
large tank that allows them to avoid
each other. They often won't get
along with other types of shrimps
either, but they typically don’t
bother other invertebrates. So, if
you want one (or a pair), it will be
fine in a reef tank. The only thing
to watch out for is a hungry shrimp
that might climb up on a coral and
steal its food. Make sure the shrimp
eats before giving meaty foods to
corals.
The Harlequin Shrimp
Hymenocera picta
(Rip - Dec 2007)Most beautiful, oddest looking and
interesting shrimp in tank. Rather
shy, but become bold and come out in
open when looking for food. Which is
only starfish. I feed mine either
Chocolate Chip or Sand Sifting
Stars. Which they can consume a
large one in two weeks or less.
Usually come in mated pairs, with
the male being much more active then
the female. They work together when
capturing a starfish, then drag it
back to their lair.
Peppermint ShrimpLysmata wurdemanni
Added 4 to 125 gal. 5 Dec 2007.
Don't know much about yet.
Supposedly eat aptasia (which I have
none TG!) - And like to hang out in
groups...
CamelBack Shrimp
Rhynchocienetes uritai
Got two of these at LFS as were
pretty cheap and pretty...however
Snowflake eel grabbed one immediatly
upon putting in tank. Now have
not seen other for a while.
Probably a good thing as
it is
not considered to be reef safe,
because it has a tendency to pick at
colonial anemones, disc anemones,
mushrooms, soft leather and other
various types of polyped corals.
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