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Marine   Invertebrates

Squat anemone shrimp
(Thor amboinensis)

Squat anemone shrimp

Alternative species (click on the thumbnail to see the card)

None

Names

Scientific name
Thor amboinensis
Hippolyte amboinensis
Thor discosomatis

Common name
Squat anemone shrimp
Thor shrimp
Amboin shrimp
Humpbacked shrimp
Dancing shrimp
Thor-Garnele
Holzkreuz-Garnele (DE)
Buckelgarnele (DE)

Origin

what are its countries of origin?

Origin: Indo-Pacific, Caribbean, Florida, Bahamas
Biotope: it lives hidden among the stinging tentacles of the anemones, up to 10 m (33 feet) deep

Dimorphism

what are the physical differences between males and females?

Easy. The female is much larger than the male. Another difference is that the white bar in front of the tail is discontinuous in females while it is continuous in males

Group

Group

Hippolytidae

Volume

what is the minimum volume for this species?

20 L / 4 imp gal / 5 US gal (nano)

Parameters

what are the water parameters for the maintenance of this fish?

T°: 24 to 26°C or 75 to 79°F
pH: 8.1 to 8.5
Density: 1022 to 1024

Difficulty

Difficulty

Easy

Size

what is the maximum size of this fish?

Female: 2.5cm (0.8")
Male: 1.5cm (0.4")

Longevity

what is the average life expectancy of this fish?

5 years

Living zone

in which area of the aquarium does this fish live?

Middle and depth

Individuals

sociability of the species

5

Food

How to feed the Squat anemone shrimp?

Food

How to feed the Squat anemone shrimp?

This invertebrate is an omnivore with a tendency to scavenge and find its own food. It consumes small waste and also takes advantage of the meals of its host anemone (frozen artemia, Krill, Mysis...).

Behavior

What kind of behavior does the Squat anemone shrimp have?

Behavior

What kind of behavior does the Squat anemone shrimp have?

They are quite active and look for food all day long, mainly at the foot of their host anemone. They are also peaceful and sociable, real little treasures of good character! Very fun to watch, they are always moving in a kind of dance that some will find "sexy"!

These shrimp are very beneficial to their host whom they "take care of".

Cohabitation

Who can live with the Lysmata?

Cohabitation

Who can live with the Squat anemone shrimp?

Thor amboinensis and coral

This shrimp finds refuge and lives in sea anemones. Their presence is therefore essential to their survival. In nature (depending on the geographical area), this small shrimp is found in Stichodactyla helianthus (carpet anemone), Actinoporus elegans (elegant anemone) or Condylactis gigantea (giant anemone) which are therefore to be preferred. In general, propose him: Trachyphyllia, Blastomussa, Plerogyra, Turbinaria, Acropora, Montipora, Heliofungia, Fungia, Cespitularia, Heteractis, Phymanthusou Stychodactyla. However, it can make do with a host of the Euphyllia style.

Thor amboinensis likes to live in a group and it will take at least 5 specimens to satisfy their gregarious instinct. The male/female ratio of the group must be balanced.

Obviously, be careful of the presence of fish that could eat his small shrimps. It is therefore not recommended to keep them with fallfish or comet fish. Amphiprions (clown fish) are not welcome either because they hunt shrimps from their anemones.

Finally, you can add Periclimenes pedersoni for example or other invertebrates because the Sexy Shrimp is never aggressive.

Breeding

How to breed the Squat anemone shrimp?

Breeding

How to breed the Squat anemone shrimp?

You can try the breeding of this species in a well-rolled nano aquarium. With good conditions of maintenance, the breeding are frequent (every 14 days). The females carry eggs under their abdomen. Arrived at maturity, the female will release larvae in a rather impressive broom: she goes up towards the surface very quickly to release her young there.

The larvae are looking for light and you will find them clustered in a light ray. This characteristic can be exploited to trap them and place them in a small nano, in safety. After a growth phase of about 8 weeks, you can release your young shrimp in the main aquarium.

This larval stage is quite long as it will last between 27 and 40 days. After 6 months, the shrimp are only half their final size. Note that live algae are beneficial for the development of young shrimp. On the other hand, sexual maturity is quite fast (2 months after the last metamorphosis).

All shrimp are born male, then the oldest and the dominant ones become females. This is called a protandritic hermaphrodite species.

Larval food: rotifers (Brachionus) and artemia nauplia in the larval stage. Change the water every day or every 2 days to renew the suspended food. At the last stage (juvenile), switch to freeze-dried powder.

Its aquarium

Which aquarium for the Squat anemone shrimp?

Its aquarium

Which aquarium for the Squat anemone shrimp?

A reef aquarium is essential for its good maintenance, taking care not to have an excess of iodine and a good level of calcium.

This tiny shrimp is more easily observed in a small aquarium. In large volumes, this little marvel disappears in the decor... Too bad!

Do not install too strong currents, a moderate stirring is more adapted.

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Good To know

Find all additional information!

His name "sexy shrimp" comes from the vertical and perpetual movement of his abdomen, similar to a dance.

Fairly sensitive to variations in water parameters, acclimatization must be done gently (count between one and two hours to do well).

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Yours photos!

Image utilisateur

By Encyclo-Caro

Image utilisateur

By Encyclo-Caro

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