I have been keeping shrimp in my saltwater aquarium for a long time with a variety of animals. Saltwater shrimp are very popular with me for their variety of colors, shapes, and behaviors, which create a unique and interesting environment in my aquarium. I try to select the right environment and the right companions for the best saltwater aquarium shrimp I keep so that they are healthy and exhibit natural behavior.
From my long experience in saltwater shrimp farming, I am discussing some of the saltwater shrimps that are easiest to keep in light and get along well with other animals. Hope it will be useful to many especially those who are new to the practice.
1. Sexy Anemone Shrimp
Sexy-Anemone-Shrimp
Species Overview
- Scientific name: Thor amboinensis
- Family: Hippolytidae
- Size: The sexy anemone shrimp is usually 2-3 cm in length.
- Behavior: Sexy anemone shrimp usually prefer to live in groups. They move and nest together. They are known as “sexy” because of their backside dancing up and down repeatedly.
- Color: The main body color of sexy anemone shrimp is usually bright orange, red, or pink. Their bodies are dotted with white spots, especially on the back.
- Gender Change: They are initially born male and can later transform into females as needed. This feature makes their breeding process easier, as the presence of any two shrimp of the same species is sufficient for breeding.
- Origin: Found in the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean, and the Indo-Pacific region.
- Lifespan: It can be around 2 to 3 years with good care and a proper environment.
Caring for Sexy Anemone Shrimp
Water conditions and parameters: In a 20-gallon tank, you can keep 2-3 sexy anemone shrimp. New additions require 4-5 gallons of fresh water per shrimp. They require a water temperature of 24-28°C (75-82°F), a salinity level of 1.023-1.025 (Specific Gravity), and a pH level of 8.1-8.4. 20-25% of the water should be changed every week to maintain good water quality.
Diet: The diet of sexy anemone shrimp is varied, and they are quite efficient at foraging in the aquarium. They feed on small plankton, such as phytoplankton and zooplankton, and also live close to anemones and corals, eating the small food particles that fall from them. They may also eat small coral food such as brine shrimp or mysis shrimp.
Breeding
Sexy anemone shrimp are capable of breeding in aquariums, but they require the right environment and care. Male shrimp mate with female shrimp for reproduction. After mating, the female shrimp incubates the eggs. When the eggs hatch, tiny larvae emerge. These larvae first float freely in the water and then feed on microscopic plankton.
Suitable Partner
Selection of suitable mates: They should select mates that exhibit similar peaceful behavior and do not pose a threat to each other, such as clownfish, gobyfish, firefish, etc.
Unsuitable Companions: There are some animals that are unsuitable and dangerous for the sexy anemone shrimp, such as triggerfish, lionfish, large crabs, and lobsters.
Suitable Plants
They need to select plants that not only help improve water quality but also serve as shelter and food sources for the shrimp. Suitable plants for them can be Caulerpa spp., Chaetomorpha spp., mushroom coral, Sargassum, etc.
2. Blood Red Fire Shrimp
Blood-Red-Fire-Shrimp
Species Overview
- Scientific Name: Lysmata debelius
- Family: Hippolytidae
- Size: Usually 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long
- Behavior: They are generally very calm and can mix easily in water tanks with other smaller species. They like to hide under rocks or in coral crevices during the day and are more active at night or in calmer environments.
- Color: The body of this shrimp is bright red, making it very attractive and eye-catching.
- Body Structure: It usually has backward-curved legs and large scales.
- Origin: Found in various regions of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
- Lifespan: Lifespan is usually 1.5 to 2 years.
Residence
1-2 shrimps can be kept in a 10-gallon tank. If you want to keep more shrimp or add other marine animals, maintain a minimum tank size of 20-30 gallons and add 4-5 gallons of water per animal when introducing new animals.
Blood Red Fire Shrimp Care
Water Conditions and Parameters: Water temperature of 20-26 °C (68-78 °F), pH level of 7.0-8.0, and KH of 5-7 dKH are ideal parameters.
Diet: Blood Red Fire Shrimp can have a varied diet, as they are essentially omnivores. Their diet includes algae, detritus, and small aquatic animals. Additionally, they can eat prepared food (flake food, pellets) and enjoy slightly boiled vegetables like spinach and cucumber.
Breeding
The reproduction process of Blood Red Fire Shrimp is somewhat complicated, so they need proper care. Shrimp that are usually 3-5 months old are ready for breeding. Female shrimp typically lay about 20-30 eggs every 20-30 days, and the eggs hatch into larvae in 2-3 weeks. The larvae usually live in open water and feed on small food such as adult brine shrimp, microflora, and liquid food.
Suitable Partner
Choosing a Suitable Mate: Blood Red Fire Shrimp are generally calm in nature, so calm and social mates should be chosen. Suitable companions for them include gobies, tetras, small betta species, and other shrimp of the same species.
Unsuitable Mates: Choosing unsuitable mates is very important for Blood Red Fire Shrimp, as the wrong mates can pose a threat to their health and safety. Threats to them include predatory fish such as piranhas, cichlids, larger angelfish, etc.
Suitable Plants
Choosing the right plants for your Blood Red Fire Shrimp tank is crucial to their health and comfort. Plants not only add natural beauty to the tank but also provide shelter, food, and protection. Suitable plants for them are Java Moss, Java Fern, Marimo Ball, Anubias, Hornwort, etc.
3. Camel Shrimp
camel-shrimp
Species Overview
- Scientific name: Cherax destructor
- Family: Parastacidae
- Size: They usually range from 4 to 6 inches.
- Behavior: They are generally calm and peaceful and can usually live harmoniously with other aquatic animals. They prefer to hide underwater, which keeps them safe as hunters cannot find them easily.
- Color: Their color is usually green, brown, or blue, but some varieties of camel shrimp have different colors.
- Body Structure: The body of camel shrimp is long and square, slightly curved at the back, giving it a camel-like appearance.
- Origin: Its Origin is mainly southwestern Australia.
- Lifespan: They can usually live for 3 to 5 years.
Care of Camel Shrimp
Water Conditions and Parameters: At least a 20-gallon tank should be selected so that they can move freely and keep themselves safe.
They should maintain a water temperature of 20-28°C (68-82°F), pH of 6.5 to 7.5, water hardness of 6-15 dGH, and ammonia and nitrite levels at 0 ppm.
Moreover, 15-20% of the water should be changed every week to maintain water quality.
Diet: The diet of camel shrimp is quite varied; they like to eat algae, aquatic plants, microorganisms, and other small animals. They also eat specially prepared shrimp food or pellets and can consume vegetables (such as carrots or pumpkins).
Breeding
Breeding camel shrimp in an aquarium is an interesting process and can be done successfully if the right environment and care are ensured. They should be given nutritious food during breeding. A female shrimp can usually lay between 30-50 eggs, which typically hatch in 3-4 weeks. Once the eggs hatch, the young shrimp should have a safe environment and hiding places.
Suitable Partners
Choosing the Right Mate: Choosing the right mate for camel shrimp in the aquarium is very important for their health and happiness. Suitable companions include Ghost Shrimp, Neon Tetra, Penguin Tetra, Corydoras, and Malaysian Snails.
Unsuitable Mates: Aggressive mates should not be selected for camel shrimp, as this may be detrimental to their safety and well-being. Unsuitable companions include Cichlids, Ram’s Horn Fish, Largemouth Bass, and Large Crab Species.
Suitable Plants
Choosing the right plants for camel shrimp is important, as it helps improve their health and creates a safe environment. Suitable plants include Java Fern, Anubias, Cryptocoryne, and Moss.
4. Banded Coral Shrimp
Banded-Coral-Shrimp
Species Overview
- Scientific name: Stenopus hispidus
- Family: Stenopodidae
- Size: Size usually ranges from 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm).
- Behavior: Banded coral shrimp are calm and social creatures that like to live together with fish and shrimp. They remove parasites, dead tissue, and other waste from the bodies of other animals.
- Color: The color of banded coral shrimp is usually white or light-based and has vertical or horizontal bands of red or orange.
- Body Structure: Their bodies are generally long and slender, which allows them to move and hide in gaps. They have two large pincers in front, which they use to collect food and protect themselves.
- Origin: Found in the Atlantic, Indo-Pacific, and Caribbean regions.
- Lifespan: Lifespan is usually 3 to 5 years.
Banded Coral Shrimp Care
Water Conditions and Parameters: Select a tank of at least 20 gallons. Water temperature should be maintained between 24°C to 28°C (75°F to 82°F), with a pH of 8.1 to 8.4. Additionally, 10-20% of the water should be changed every week to maintain proper water parameters.
Diet: Banded coral shrimp are generally scavengers, meaning they prefer to eat decomposing organic matter, microorganisms, and other small animals. In addition, they eat cooked or dry food (flakes or pellets) and vegetables (such as greens or spirulina).
Breeding
Breeding banded coral shrimp in aquariums is challenging, as they often depend on a natural environment. However, with proper care and adequate attention, it is possible to breed them successfully. Provide high-quality food such as snails, plankton, and especially live food (e.g., autophagy) during spawning. The female shrimp lays eggs, which are usually held under her abdomen. These eggs later develop into the larval stage.
Suitable Partners
Choosing the Right Mate: Selecting the right mate for banded coral shrimp is crucial, as it contributes to their health and happiness. Clownfish, gobies, blennies, nerite snails, and turbo snails are suitable companions for them.
Unsuitable Mates: Some animals are not suitable as mates for banded coral shrimp, especially aggressive ones like lionfish, triggerfish, moray eels, and damselfish.
Suitable Plants
Choosing the right plants for banded coral shrimp is important, as the right plants help provide them with safety, shelter, and food. Suitable plants for them include macroalgae, seagrasses, and soft corals.
5. Saron Shrimp
Saron-Shrimp
Species Overview
- Scientific name: Caridina cf. cantonensis
- Family: Atyidae
- Size: About 2-3 cm (0.8-1.2 in) long
- Behavior: Saron shrimp are generally calm and do not clash with other fish or shrimp. They like to hide for their safety. They are generally less active during the day and more active at night in search of food.
- Color: Saron shrimp are usually black and white in pattern. Their bodies have white stripes or spots on a black background.
- Origin: China
- Lifespan: Usually live 1.5 to 2 years
Residence
A 10-15 gallon tank is suitable for 2-3 Saron shrimp. If you want to add more shrimp later, add 4-5 gallons of water for each additional shrimp. If you want to keep other animals along with Saron shrimp, you should have a tank of at least 20-30 gallons.
Saron Shrimp Care
Water Conditions and Parameters: Water temperature should be between 20-25 °C (68-77 °F), pH level 6.0 to 7.5, water hardness 3-8 dGH, and carbonate hardness 1-3 dKH. Nitrite and Ammonia levels should be 0 ppm. 20-25% of the water should be changed every week to maintain proper water quality.
Diet: They survive mainly on algae, microbes, and small particles. They can also eat different types of food like shrimp food and vegetable food.
Breeding
Saron shrimp breeding is an interesting process and can be done successfully if given the right environment and care. The female shrimp carries about 20-30 eggs in her abdomen, which you can clearly see.
Suitable Partners
Selecting Appropriate Mates: Placing aggressive animals with calmer Saron shrimp can stress the shrimp and even affect their reproduction or lifespan. Suitable companions include Red Cherry Shrimp, Amano Shrimp, Harlequin Rasbora, Neon Tetra, and Nerite Snails.
Unsuitable Companions: Saron shrimp are calm and sensitive, so they should not be kept with aggressive or large animals like Angelfish, Tiger Barbs, Goldfish, etc.
Suitable Plants
Choosing the right plants in the tank for Saron shrimp is very important. Vegetation provides hiding places and a natural food source for the shrimp. Suitable plants include Java Moss, Anubias, Java Fern, and Subwassertang.
6. Harlequin Shrimp
Harlequin-Shrimp
Species Overview
- Scientific name: Hymenocera picta
Family: Hymenoceridae - Size: Adult harlequin shrimp can be up to about 5 cm in size.
- Behavior: They usually live in pairs. Female and male shrimp help each other when they are together, especially when it comes to finding food and safety. They are particularly aggressive in their search for food.
- Color: They have blue and white markings on their bodies, which makes them extremely beautiful.
- Origin: Indo-Pacific region
- Lifespan: Usually lives about 3 to 5 years.
Residence
A tank of at least 20 to 30 gallons should be used. It provides them with a sufficient amount of space, where they can move around easily. Also, the tank should have coral, rocks, and other hiding places where the harlequin shrimp can hide. Adequate gaps should be kept between coral reefs and rocks so that they can move easily.
Harlequin Shrimp Care
Water Conditions and Parameters: Water temperature of 24-26°C (75-79°F), pH 8.1-8.4, and water hardness of 8-12 dKH are ideal parameters, and nitrite and ammonia should be kept at 0 ppm. A 10-15% water change should be done every week to help maintain aquarium water quality.
Diet: Harlequin shrimp prefer to eat mainly starfish. They break the ribs of starfish and eat their flesh. Although starfish are their main diet, they may also eat specially prepared shellfish flakes or pellet shrimp food, but these are not their primary diet.
Breeding
Harlequin shrimp can generally breed throughout the year, but the right environment and food availability are important for their reproduction. Usually, a female can lay 20-30 eggs. Eggs usually hatch in 2-3 weeks; however, this time frame may vary depending on water temperature and quality.
Suitable Partners
Selecting Appropriate Mates: Harlequin shrimp can be accompanied by other marine animals such as small crabs, blue crabs, and safe small fish.
Unsuitable Companions: Harlequin shrimp should not be kept with ferocious and aggressive animals such as angelfish, triggerfish, rock crabs, groupers, and damselfish.
Suitable Plants
Moss, various mosses, small and medium sedges, underwater plants, duckweed, etc., are suitable plants for harlequin shrimp, as these plants provide both safe shelter and food for them.
7. Tiger Pistol Shrimp
Tiger Pistol Shrimp
Species Overview
- Scientific name: Alpheus bellulus
- Family: Alpheidae
- Size: The length of this shrimp usually ranges from 2.5 to 5 cm.
- Behavior: These shrimp are generally social and get along well with each other. They usually create a safe habitat together and live cooperatively.
- Color: The color of the tiger pistol shrimp is usually white or yellow-based, with varying degrees of dark spots or patterns. These spots contribute to their “tiger” moniker.
- Origin: Southeast Asia, India, and the Pacific Ocean.
- Lifespan: Lifespan is usually 2 to 3 years.
Residence
A minimum 20-30 gallon aquarium is a good start for keeping tiger pistol shrimp and other animals together. They are more comfortable in larger tanks, which gives them more space. They must have sand and small stones in their tank because they use sand, small stones, and pieces of rock to make their burrows and habitat.
Tiger Pistol Shrimp Care
Water conditions and parameters: Water temperature should be between 22°C and 28°C (71.6°F to 82.4°F), and a pH of 7.5 to 8.5 are ideal parameters. Ammonia and nitrite should be 0 ppm, as these are toxic gases that are harmful to the aquarium. Also, 20-30% of the water should be changed every week to maintain water quality.
Diet: The diet of the tiger pistol shrimp is mainly carnivorous and predatory in nature. They feed on small aquatic organisms and macrophages. They can also eat frozen food (brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and bloodworms).
Breeding
A male and a female shrimp live together and begin the reproductive process. Female shrimp usually lay eggs in their burrows. Their eggs are usually small and greenish and are attached to the back of the shrimp. The eggs hatch in about 2-3 weeks, and then the larvae emerge. These larvae are very small and start feeding on microplankton.
Suitable Partner
Choosing the right mate: They are generally calm and cooperative animals, so one should choose a similarly peaceful and non-aggressive mate for them. Goby fish, clownfish, cardinalfish, scarlet cleaner shrimp, etc. are suitable companions for them.
Unsuitable companions: Triggerfish, groupers, lionfish, predatory hermit crabs, and predatory crabs should not be kept in the same tank as tiger pistol shrimp, as they are very aggressive and predatory.
Suitable Plants
Some suitable plants for tiger pistol shrimp are kelp or sea algae, shoal seagrass, eelgrass, and coralline algae, which keep the water clean and provide natural shelter.
