Sexy Shrimp

Care at a glance

Overview

A peaceful, gregarious nano-reef shrimp that lives in groups and is at its best in a tank without large predators, since anything that eats small shrimp will make short work of it. Reef safe as a rule, though a rare individual may nip at SPS or coral polyps, especially if underfed. Keep several together for the classic dancing cluster on a host anemone or coral.

In the wild

A tiny circumtropical shrimp that lives among the tentacles of sea anemones and corals in shallow reefs, recorded with at least a dozen different anemone genera. In the aquarium it does best in a peaceful nano or reef tank where it can adopt a host anemone or a bubble-tip, hammer, or other coral to perch on. It stays in the open on its host rather than hiding in rock.

Good to know

Thor amboinensis lives with anemones in commensal symbiosis: the shrimp gains shelter and camouflage while the anemone is largely unaffected, unlike the tighter mutualism of clownfish. It constantly bobs its raised abdomen and tail, the 'dancing' motion that gives it its name, likely as a signaling or balance behavior. It does fine without a host but is far more settled with one.

Did you know

It perches right in the stinging tentacles of anemones that would kill most other shrimp, and a small group bobbing together on a bubble-tip anemone is one of the most charming sights in a nano reef.

Related species

• 

  Pederson's Cleaner Shrimp

  Ancylomenes pedersoni

  1.2 in (3 cm)11 gal (40 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  White-Spot Anemone Shrimp

  Periclimenes brevicarpalis

  1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
• Randall's Pistol Shrimp

  Alpheus randalli

  1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Camel / Dancing Shrimp

  Rhynchocinetes durbanensis

  2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Harlequin Shrimp

  Hymenocera picta

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Marble Shrimp

  Saron marmoratus

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)