TankBud

Elegant rockpool shrimp

Palaemon elegans

Also known as Rockpool Shrimp, Rockpool Prawn

SaltwaterShrimp

Elegant rockpool shrimp (Palaemon elegans)
Cisamarc · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
61–79°F
16–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Egg carrier · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe
Family
Palaemonidae
Origin
Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean, from Norway to Namibia

Overview

The elegant rockpool shrimp is a hardy, peaceful scavenger for a rocky saltwater or reef tank. It is easy to keep and a good first shrimp.

Did you know

The elegant rockpool shrimp is close to indestructible, thanks to its life in rockpools. It tolerates salinities from nearly fresh water to well above normal seawater, and temperatures from a few degrees above freezing into warm reef range. Those conditions would finish off most reef tank invertebrates.

Caring for the elegant rockpool shrimp

Give the elegant rockpool shrimp 11 gal (40 L) or more, with rockwork full of crevices to work through. Keep the water at 61 to 79°F (16 to 26°C) with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4.

It is a genuine omnivore and spends the night picking leftover food, algae and detritus out of gaps other cleanup crew cannot reach. Expect to see the most of it after lights out.

It is peaceful and fine alone or in a group. Keepers report it leaves corals and other invertebrates alone, but choose its tank mates with some caution.

Berried females carry their eggs and then release clouds of planktonic larvae. The larvae double as live food for fish and corals. Breeding it is moderately difficult.

Good to know

Palaemon elegans is a palaemonid shrimp with a clear body marked in fine dark bands, bluish claws and yellow accents at the leg joints. Studies of wild populations put its diet at roughly 60 percent small animal prey and 40 percent algae. The aquarium line is captive bred from Adriatic stock and only recently established in the hobby.

In the wild

The elegant rockpool shrimp lives in rockpools and on shallow rocky shores of the northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean, from Norway down to Namibia. These habitats swing hard in temperature and salinity between tides.

Common questions

What size tank does an elegant rockpool shrimp need?

An elegant rockpool shrimp needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does an elegant rockpool shrimp need?

An elegant rockpool shrimp is comfortable at 61–79°F (16–26°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

What does an elegant rockpool shrimp eat?

An elegant rockpool shrimp is a genuine omnivore. At night it picks leftover food, algae and detritus out of gaps that other cleanup crew cannot reach.

How big does an elegant rockpool shrimp get?

An adult elegant rockpool shrimp reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

How does an elegant rockpool shrimp breed?

Elegant rockpool shrimp females carry their eggs until they release clouds of planktonic larvae. The larvae make live food for fish and corals, and breeding it is moderately difficult.

Related species