Facts and Information about Marine Shrimps

The Blood or Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debelius) is a beautiful shrimp which may not work well in a reef tank. The ultimate scavenger, it may pick on your corals if not very well fed.

The Rhynchocienetes uritai is generally peaceful with other tank inhabitants, but caution should be used when adding this shrimp to a reef tank. 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.

Stenopus hispidus gets along well with most fish and invertebrates in an aquarium. However, triggerfish and many eels will dine on Coral Banded Shrimp when given the opportunity. This shrimp will actively clean fish, when presented with parasites.

This is a very shy, mild tempered shrimp, as well as delicate and sensitive. It prefers hard rocky or coral substrates, rich with lots of hiding places. During daylight hours it keeps hidden and only goes out to feed at twilight hours, or complete darkness. It is almost always found in pairs with the female being the larger of the two.

The Mantis Shrimp is a beautiful animal, but care should be taken when adding one to your aquarium. There are two hunting categories of Mantis Shrimps: the "spearers" and the "smashers". The "spearers" use their spear-like claw to silently stab soft tissued prey. The "smashers" use their forceful, club-like claw to hit, crack open or pulverize harder bodied prey.

Dr. Roy Caldwell provides More Information About Mantis Shrimps.

The Pacific Cleaner Shrimp, true to its name, will clean parasites and debris from marine fish. It will even clean parasites from the mouth and gills of compliant fish. Contrary to popular belief, its red and white stripes do not totally protect it from predation by larger fish and eels.

Peppermint Shrimp are nocturnal and very shy during the day, protecting themselves from predators by staying out of sight most of the time. However, at night when the big boys are napping, this shrimp forages the system looking for a meal.