TankBud

Camel / dancing shrimp

Rhynchocinetes durbanensis

Also known as Hinge-beak Shrimp, Candy Shrimp

SaltwaterShrimp

Camel / dancing shrimp (Rhynchocinetes durbanensis)
Jens Petersen · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
16 gal
60 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Very common
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Rhynchocinetidae
Origin
Indo-West Pacific (South Africa to Japan and the Philippines)

Overview

Reef safe with caution. It's cheap, hardy, and a decent scavenger, but it will pick at soft corals, zoanthids, and colonial anemone polyps when there isn't enough uneaten food around, and it's easily confused with peppermint shrimp on a store shelf, so a close look before buying matters. Peaceful toward fish and other shrimp, and does best in a small group of four to six rather than as a single specimen. Mostly nocturnal, hiding by day and coming out to scavenge after the lights go off.

In the wild

Native to the Indo-West Pacific from South Africa and the Red Sea through India and Southeast Asia to Japan and the Philippines. Found in shallow, rocky reef habitat from about 5–35 m, tucked into caves, overhangs, and crevices in loose groups. The aquarium setup should match that: plenty of rockwork with shaded hiding spots and other camel shrimp for company.

Good to know

Named for the humped, camel like curve of its back and the long, hinged rostrum that angles up from its face, which is where the hinge-beak shrimp name comes from. Red and white banding and large red eyes make it easy to identify. It's a true omnivore and opportunistic scavenger, unlike the more predatory banded shrimp species it sometimes gets mistaken for.

Did you know

Its eyes are made of thousands of individual facets that give it strong low light vision, which is why most of its jerky, rocking 'dancing' walk happens well after dark.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Camel / dancing shrimp is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Camel / dancing shrimp need?

A Camel / dancing shrimp needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Camel / dancing shrimp need?

A Camel / dancing shrimp is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

How big does a Camel / dancing shrimp get?

An adult Camel / dancing shrimp reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

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