The Types of Shrimp in a Saltwater Aquarium

Shrimp are popular additions to marine or saltwater aquariums. They are not only interesting to watch, but many also help to clean up uneaten food or growing algae that could cause dangerous water chemistry changes. But not all shrimp are compatible with other saltwater pets. In order to keep the shrimp safe, some aquarists keep the shrimp in a refugium or smaller tank next to the main tank. Both tanks share the same water and filtration equipment.

  1. Cleaner Shrimp

    • Sometimes called ornamental shrimps, these are the most useful and most common type of shrimp for marine tanks. They are generally in the genus Lysmanta. They earn their name by cleaning out effluvium, and sometimes even pick parasites and dead scales out of the mouths and bodies of fish, according to "The Everything Aquarium Book." Common species include the peppermint shrimp or Lysmata wurdemanni, which is the only shrimp known to eat the common parasite aiptasia or glass anemone and the white-banded or skunk cleaner shrimp or Lysmata ambroinensis.

    Ornamental Shrimp

    • Although all types of shrimp sold for home aquariums are commonly called "ornamental shrimp," these species differ from cleaners in minor aspects. They are vividly colored, may perform cleaning on fish, are "reef safe" or can survive the conditions of a home aquarium and often they possess unusual reproductive behaviors, such as being born male and gradually changes to a female. Some, like Lysmata ambroinensis, are hermaphrodites so just having two will guarantee that they will try to breed. Popular species include those in the snapping or pistol shrimp group, which ideally should live with gobi fish species. Although most sold species for the pet trade are non-aggressive, be sure. Mantis shrimp species, for example, are very aggressive, even to people.

    Scavenger Shrimp

    • These are highly unusual shrimp that eat by picking whatever food they can find at the tank bottom and do not engage in fish-cleaning behaviors. The most common is called the dancing shrimp, sexy shrimp or Thor amboinesis. They get their name from their unusual courtship dance. They should never be kept with fish larger than they are. Another lesser-known species is the camel shrimp, candy shrimp or Rhynchocinetes durbanensis. The harlequin shrimp or Hymenocerna elegans eat only fresh or frozen starfish.

    Mysid Shrimp

    • These tiny crustaceans, less than 10mm long, are technically not shrimp but are still called shrimp. They strongly resemble transparent shrimp. They are often used as food for seahorses and other types of saltwater fish.