Injured Dancing Shrimp 11/7/07 Hello crew, <Hiya John> I have a question about my dancing shrimp (rhynchocinetes) that I think may have become injured the other day. I was rearranging my live rock and removing some bubble algae when I moved my big piece, (30 #) and the dancing shrimp must not have moved quick enough. The sand got stirred up and I lost sight of it. After I was finished everything seemed no worse for the wear (fish, shrimp(s), starfish, etc). Two days later I noticed a black spot/mark on its side about 1/4" in diameter. the shrimp seems to be OK and not hiding just picking food of the rock like it normally does. Is there any reason to be concerned? <Your Camel/Dancing Shrimp (Rhynchocinetes durbanensis) should be fine. I've seen shrimp that have lost legs only to regenerate them on the next molt.> Will the other tank mates go after an injured shrimp? (Tomato Clown, Bicolor Angel, White-banded cleaner Shrimp). <Your inhabitants should be fine with the shrimp.> The cleaner shrimp is already aggressive towards it, not because of the injury but when it finally grew bigger- kind of funny how tables turn, the dancer used to beat up on the cleaner shrimp and take its food when it was smaller-sorry for the digression. should I be worried? is there anything I can do? <No worries, all should be fine.> Thank you so much for your time and your service, much appreciated. <You're welcome, and you may want to learn more about shrimp here. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i2/fatheree%20shrimps/james_w.htm  James (Salty Dog)> John P

Camel Shrimp Aggression Towards New Cleaner - 7/18/07 Hi <Hi there, Susan!> I have a camelback shrimp which I've had for a couple of weeks and now I have a cleaner shrimp. Last night the camelback started chasing the cleaner all over the tank and wouldn't leave him alone. Will the camel kill the cleaner if I don't somehow separate them? <Hmmm, not directly (unless it was almost done for anyway). It's possible, though, that the camel could pester it/keep it from eating enough that it could weaken the shrimp. That, on top of any stresses from shipping, acclimating, molting, etc, could finish him off. Major factors in keeping these two species peacefully include having sufficient space for each, enough hiding spaces, and enough food. If the tank they're in is a nano - 20g or less, I'd remove one. If it's larger than that, you might be able to resolve the situation by rearranging the rock a bit. That would force the camel to re-establish a territory and hopefully allow the cleaner to claim one of his own. If you still have continued aggression after that, I'd remove one.> And do you have any ideas on an easy way to catch the camelback? <Unfortunately, not any easy ones! The first option I'd try is to net the little guy. If he's as bold as he sounds, this has a good chance of working (and it serves as a good test of coordination and patience! <G>). Attach a piece of bait (shrimp/clam/etc) to some fishing line, and drop this down into the tank. Have your net ready in the water, lure him out towards the front of the tank, then slowly bring the net in behind him. When you're close enough, *wham*, trap him against the glass. Slide net up and voila, you've got him! If after about two/three tries, this doesn't work, forget it. At that point, he's on to you and won't fall for it again. Not anytime soon, anyway! The next option is to try one of the "critter", or crab traps, that can be homemade, or are readily available on the market. Just position it near his favorite spot and cross your fingers!> Thanks Susan <You're welcome, and good luck! -Lynn>

Health of a camel shrimp... no useful info.    02/17/07 My tank is a nano reef about 7 weeks old. Shortly after the tank cycled, I bought a camel shrimp. He seemed to do fine for several weeks. Lately, he seems less alert and his color has changed. The white patterns on his mid-section has turned a yellow brown color instead of their usually brilliant white. Is he healthy? <Can't tell from here> Is this common? <Mmm, yes... as is their perishing> I'm wondering if he is malnourished, but I'm reluctant to feed more because it's such a small tank. I also have a sally-lightfoot crab and some green star polyps that seem fine. Thanks. <... Water chemistry issues are usually the principal reason for these shrimp's demise... they are social animals... Please read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/dancingshrpfaqs.htm and the linked files above. BobF>

Knobbed Starfish Question 9/24/06 Hi guys <Hello> Hope everything is fine there! <Wonderful> I have a Red Knobbed Starfish - Protoreastor linckii (one of its feet's are 1.5" in length). I think its kind of a small one. Last night he has consumed my Dancing Shrimp I think? Can they really do this? <Have been known to eat inverts, clams, corals and even other starfish the older they get> My dancing shrimp's shell or the hard skin (whatever you call it) is just lying there. It's like something sucked out its meat. <Sounds like the shrimp could have just shed his skin…I would look around for him> I only have 1 more dancing shrimp and the above mentioned Red Knobbed Star in my 80G with lots of live rocks (just to keep my nitrification cycle going until I add my fish). I really never thought starfish can consumer shrimps because the stars move pretty slowly compared to shrimps. Is there anyway I can stop this behavior? Is this particular starfish I have is a bad one for my tank (LFS told me it's a good beginner star and it's really hardy & peaceful)? Should I remove the other dancing shrimp? Will it consume slow moving fish such as blennies or clowns later when I add them to the tank? Will they eat feather dusters or bubble-tip anemone? Please help me I am lost and don't know what to do. Thanks Akila < Akila - These starfish are definitely not reef safe and will eat feather dusters and anemones the older they get.  The fish are generally safe with them.  Although very beautiful, this particular specimen is not a good reef inhabitant.  Cheers! - Dr. J>

Seastars and dancing shrimp - 1/30/04 A quick question.  I accidentally put dancing shrimp into my tank and now can't catch them to get them out. <How do you accidentally put dancing shrimp in a tank?? :) There are great many DIY and commercial traps available online. I am sure there is something out there for you> Can you suggest how to trap them? <I think you can search the internet for a trap solution, but my question is why do you want to take them out?>  Also at the same time I put in a lovely little blue sea star only to find within the week that it had it's entrails hanging out from it's oral orifice one day. <Is the star alive. Many Seastars use their stomach to feed by placing it over food items and digesting before ingesting so to speak. So this is a feeding strategy>  Do you think that the dancing shrimp could have done this or do you think that it may be one of the as of yet un-identified crabs that came with live rock that attacked that star? <What type of Seastar? I think that the shrimp are not responsible here. Do look into Echinoderms on our website (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/seastars.htm) and you will find many stories of Seastar and starfish evisceration. It is important to ID your inhabitants before purchasing them so that you know their needs for acclimation, their foodstuffs, their compatibility with other inhabitants, as well as a great deal of other necessary needs. (don't always believe what the dealer tells you) Also important to note, that starfish, regardless of type, need to be acclimated slowly with very special attention paid towards water quality. >  Any suggestions on a good location to search for info about traps besides direct answers to those questions in red would be appreciated. <start with searching on Google with the key words "DIY aquarium traps" and then change the key word search as you see fit to get what you are looking for. Don't dis-count some of the fish traps available either. All can be made suitable for shrimp ~Paul> Thanks again . Greg

Missing (Camel) Shrimp Hi WWM crew, I have 4 camel shrimp along with other fishes (damsels and clowns) and one of the shrimp is behaving rather motionless, I can still see that it's breathing but other than that its not even standing or picking stuff. Since I have a recent outbreak of Ich, I turn the lights out completely (complete darkness) <... think you may have Cryptocaryon mixed up with Amyloodinium... a lack of light won't curtail a crypt/ich infestation> but when I came back from work this afternoon, it's missing but I found a severed claw and leg in the tank. It's been known to get itself trap in the filter but it's not there when I check. My questions are: Is it pre-molt behaviour for the shrimp to remain motionless?, <This family (dancing...) of shrimp do have still then jerky locomotion... synchronized in the wild in larger number-sized populations> Do they sever their appendages by themselves when they molt or was it kill by water qualities? <Mostly the latter. Can automize (toss) appendages in times/places of need.> By the way I haven't noticed any unknown predators Thanks a lot. Regards, Yik Sing <Your water quality checks out? Mainly biomineral (Ca, Mg) and alkalinity? You do administer iodine/ate? Bob Fenner> Camel Shrimp in the Reef well how can i be sure it will eat corals and also why couldn't i keep it in the refugium <This species naturally preys on coral in the wild and is well documented in captivity for doing so. A few will not, but most will eventually (brain corals, polyps, etc)... it is not a safe choice in the long run. As far as the refugium goes... if you want your refugium to actually perform as a refugium (producing plankton: worms, larvae, copepods, etc) then you cannot put fish, predatory shrimps or anything else in it that will eat the plankton. Best regards, Anthony>

Peppermint versus Camel Shrimp i have just found out that peppermint shrimps are the same as dancing shrimps hence the title at the top of the web page peppermint dancing) shrimp also it looks the same as my shrimp do peppermint shrimps eat corals or not. <in our first e-mail I gave you a scientific name to coincide with the common name "dancing shrimp" (and for clarification). Most "dancing" shrimp ordered in the trade are Durban species... the camel shrimp. Peppermint shrimp are similar but not quite the same. They are slightly safer for reef aquariums (although they have often been observed nibbling at coral). They also have the benefit in refugiums of breeding frequently and producing many larvae that can feed small fishes and corals. However, they still eat far more good things in refugia than they produce in my opinion. My advice is the same as for camel/Durban/dancing shrimps. Not for reef aquariums. Kindly, Anthony>

Dancing/ Camel Shrimps I went to the LFS the other day and saw dancing shrimps at quite a low price <AKA the Durban dancing shrimp... hardy and inexpensive. Lets be sure we are talking about the same "dancing" shrimp though. Please look up: Rhynchocinetes durbanensis> and they are really cool to watch so i wondered what u think of putting them in my 50 gal reef <I am very grateful to you for inquiring before buying my friend. Too many get purchased for the average garden reef display and do not fare well or cause trouble> which has already got a 2 year old cleaner shrimp in and various soft corals a regal tang, pair of Percs and a humbug damsel its water is tip top and there are many places to hide no algae though i don't know if this species need it. <this species often eats coral and is not recommended here> Also could one be added to my refugium as well which at the moment only has some Caulerpa in. <perhaps better to use peppermint shrimp for their inclination to breed and produce eggs as food for corals and fish from the refugium> Any info which i can find about these creatures would be greatly appreciated and anywhere i can find it from. Cheers <do use the scientific name above to research this animal here on wetwebmedia.com and beyond. Best regards, Anthony>

Camelback shrimp I have a camelback shrimp and I am wondering if this is a bad shrimp for a reef aquarium? I have done some research that would suggest that this shrimp is not good for the reef, but I'm not quite sure. Before I rip the aquarium apart trying to catch him, could you also tell me if there are any good ways of trapping this shrimp. I also noticed that one of my leathers looked as if it was chewed on. The only culprit in my eyes would be the camelback, beings the chew marks were not on the leather the day before and it had to happen at night. Thank you for your time. Mike <<Camel, aka Hingeback, Dancing Shrimp, family Rhynchocinetidae are definitely NOT safe around soft, leather corals... and will indeed, pinch and chew off bits of these and other polyp animals... On the other hand, folks do keep these gregarious shrimps with stinging anemones and bubble corals.... I would remove it, post haste. Bob Fenner>>

Dancing Shrimp Bob, Thank you for your insight about the odd-shaped canopy to my 46-gallon; construction is underway. I have another question I was hoping you could help me with. The dancing or camel shrimp in my tank does not seem to eat. Granted I have no leathers, mushrooms, or zoanthids to supply it. Can/will it eat food scraps, algae, or off of the 50lbs of live rock in the tank or do I need to return the little thing rather than accidentally starve it? The shrimp may be eating nocturnally but the translucent body allows me to see that it has no waste in its' intestine; or so it seems. He has been in the tank for 3 weeks now. Let me know what you think and thank you. <Likely fine, feeding at night. Need to spiff up this area: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/shrimp.htm Bob Fenner>
Sincerely, Mike Stewart