Marine aquarium invertebrates
Marine invertebrates run from the reef clean-up crew to centerpiece animals in their own right: cleaner shrimp, snails and hermit crabs that handle algae and detritus, plus anemones, clams, urchins and stars. Each profile lists what the species needs and whether it is safe in a reef.
88 species
Arrow Crab
Stenorhynchus seticornis3.9 in (10 cm)30 gal (115 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Astraea Turbo Snail
Astraea tecta1 in (2.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Aurora Anemone
Heteractis aurora11.8 in (30 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Berghia Nudibranch
Berghia stephanieae0.8 in (2 cm)5 gal (20 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blue / Purple Coral Banded Shrimp
Stenopus tenuirostris1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blue Linckia Star
Linckia laevigata11.8 in (30 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blue-Leg Hermit Crab
Clibanarius tricolor1 in (2.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Bubble Tip Anemone
Entacmaea quadricolor11.8 in (30 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Bumble Bee Snail
Engina mendicaria0.8 in (2 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Camel / Dancing Shrimp
Rhynchocinetes durbanensis2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Cerith Snail
Cerithium sp.1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)China Clam
Hippopus porcellanus15.7 in (40 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Chocolate Chip Star
Protoreaster nodosus11.8 in (30 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Christmas Tree Worm
Spirobranchus giganteus1.6 in (4 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Coco Worm
Protula bispiralis5.1 in (13 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Collector Urchin
Tripneustes gratilla5.9 in (15 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Condy Anemone
Condylactis gigantea11.8 in (30 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Coral Banded Shrimp
Stenopus hispidus2.4 in (6 cm)30 gal (115 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Coral Guard Crab
Trapezia cymodoce0.8 in (2 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Crocea Clam
Tridacna crocea5.9 in (15 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Curlyque Anemone
Bartholomea annulata5.9 in (15 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Daum's Reef Lobster
Enoplometopus daumi3.9 in (10 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Derasa Clam
Tridacna derasa19.7 in (50 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Electric Blue Hermit Crab
Calcinus elegans2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Emerald Crab
Mithraculus sculptus2.4 in (6 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Fighting Conch
Strombus alatus3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Fire Shrimp
Lysmata debelius2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Flame Scallop
Ctenoides scaber3.5 in (9 cm)30 gal (115 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Fromia Star
Fromia milleporella5.9 in (15 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Giant Feather Duster
Sabellastarte spectabilis5.9 in (15 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Gigantea Carpet Anemone
Stichodactyla gigantea19.7 in (50 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Gigas Clam
Tridacna gigas47.2 in (120 cm)198 gal (750 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Gold Coral Banded Shrimp
Stenopus scutellatus1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Green Brittle Star
Ophiarachna incrassata15.7 in (40 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Haddon's Carpet Anemone
Stichodactyla haddoni33.5 in (85 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Halloween Hermit Crab
Ciliopagurus strigatus2 in (5 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Harlequin Shrimp
Hymenocera picta2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Horse Hoof Clam
Hippopus hippopus11.8 in (30 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Lettuce Sea Slug
Elysia crispata1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Long Tentacle Anemone
Macrodactyla doreensis15.7 in (40 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Long-Spine Urchin
Diadema setosum9.8 in (25 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Magnificent Anemone
Heteractis magnifica19.7 in (50 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Malu Anemone
Heteractis malu7.9 in (20 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Marble Shrimp
Saron marmoratus2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Marine Nerite Snail
Nerita sp.1 in (2.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Maxi-Mini Carpet Anemone
Stichodactyla tapetum3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Maxima Clam
Tridacna maxima13.8 in (35 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Mertens' Carpet Anemone
Stichodactyla mertensii35.4 in (90 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Mexican Red-Leg Hermit Crab
Clibanarius digueti1 in (2.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Mexican Turbo Snail
Turbo fluctuosus2.4 in (6 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Multicolor Sea Star
Linckia multifora5.1 in (13 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Nassarius Snail
Nassarius sp.1 in (2.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Noah's Clam
Tridacna noae9.8 in (25 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Peacock Mantis Shrimp
Odontodactylus scyllarus7.1 in (18 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Pederson's Cleaner Shrimp
Ancylomenes pedersoni1.2 in (3 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Peppermint Shrimp
Lysmata wurdemanni2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Pom-Pom Crab
Lybia tessellata1 in (2.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Porcelain Anemone Crab
Neopetrolisthes maculatus3 in (7.5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Pyramid Top Snail
Tectus fenestratus2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Randall's Pistol Shrimp
Alpheus randalli1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Red Knob Sea Star
Protoreaster linckii11.8 in (30 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Red Mithrax Crab
Mithraculus forceps2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Ring Cowrie
Monetaria annulus1.2 in (3 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Rock Flower Anemone
Phymanthus crucifer3.9 in (10 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Rock-Boring Urchin
Echinometra mathaei3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Sally Lightfoot Crab
Percnon gibbesi3.1 in (8 cm)30 gal (115 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Sand-Sifting Sea Cucumber
Holothuria floridana7.1 in (18 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Sand-Sifting Star
Archaster typicus4.7 in (12 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab
Paguristes cadenati1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Scarlet Zebra Hermit Crab
Calcinus laevimanus1.2 in (3 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Sea Apple
Pseudocolochirus violaceus7.1 in (18 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Sebae Anemone
Heteractis crispa15.7 in (40 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Serpent Star
Ophioderma11.8 in (30 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Sexy Shrimp
Thor amboinensis1.2 in (3 cm)5 gal (20 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Slate Pencil Urchin
Eucidaris tribuloides5.1 in (13 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Social Feather Duster
Bispira brunnea3.9 in (10 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Squamosa Clam
Tridacna squamosa15.7 in (40 cm)40 gal (150 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Stomatella Snail
Stomatella varia0.8 in (2 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Tiger / Strawberry Conch
Conomurex luhuanus2.8 in (7 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Tiger Pistol Shrimp
Alpheus bellulus2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Tiger Tail Sea Cucumber
Holothuria hilla17.7 in (45 cm)50 gal (190 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Trochus Snail
Trochus sp.1.2 in (3 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Tube Anemone
Cerianthus sp.7.9 in (20 cm)20 gal (75 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Tuxedo Urchin
Mespilia globulus3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Wedge Sea Hare
Dolabella auricularia11.8 in (30 cm)50 gal (190 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
White-Spot Anemone Shrimp
Periclimenes brevicarpalis1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Yellow Sea Cucumber
Colochirus robustus3.9 in (10 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
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