Here we will be discussing Thor amboinensis a.k.a. sexy shrimp, sexy anemone shrimp, anemone shrimp, squat shrimp, humback shrimp, high-tailed shrimp, and dancing shrimp. Yeah, I know, that's a lot of names, but I did not make any up!

In this thread, you can post pictures, videos, stories, tips, questions, and anything else that pertains to sexy shrimp. Try to keep things PG, please! We don't want to get kicked out too soon.

Basic information:

Sexy shrimp are best kept in groups of odd numbers over 3. They can be kept single or as a pair, but they are much more comfortable as a group. One of their most striking behaviors is their 'dancing.' When they are kept in a group or when they are frightened, they will swing their tails back and forth, rythmically, hence the name "Dancing Shrimp."

Tank setup:
Sexy shrimp are very small, usually growing no larger than 1½", so they are best kept in tanks smaller than 10gal. In larger tanks, they are difficult to keep track of and can possibly be bullied by crabs, other shrimp, and some fish. They really love tanks in between 2 and 5 gallons.

Feeding:
You can feed them most flaked and frozen foods, plankton, and meaty items. There are several methods of feeding, and everyone can post their favorite choice.

Hosting:
Sexy anemone shrimp have that name because their natural host is an anemone. If an anemone is not present, they will most likely host other corals, but a host is not required.

Molting:
They will molt every 3 to 4 weeks, at night. Sometimes the molted skin can be mistaken as a dead body, so take a closer look and conduct a head count before getting worried.

Breeding:
Finding your female sexy shrimp with an abdomen full of eggs should become a common sight. They become reproductive at several weeks of age, and make eggs like clockwork. You can attempt to raise the fry, but it's a lot of work.
LisaP's thread
Project DIBS sexy shrimp forum

Are sexies reef safe?
YES! But, if they are not kept well fed, there is a big chance that they will munch on your corals. Some people don't have trouble with this at all, but I personally have to feed mine at least once a day, or else they start binging on zoa skirts.

Tankmates
Sexies should be alright to keep with just about anything except those fish/inverts/etc. that eat inverts. There is always a possibility of having a rouge critter that may not be friendly. Also, there may be disagreements if one or more critters in the tank are very territorial.

Where to buy
Most LFSs will either carry them or order them by request.
Other places to check:
Live Aquaria
Reef Playground
ThatFishPlace
Ebay

Alright, there is the basic info on these cute little guys. From here on out, ask questions, give first hand experience and show off some sexy (shrimp) pics!

I will be updating this thread as we go along. If you have any tips or links that you think should show up on this first post, please let me know!

Update! 7/16/08
Big thanks to el fabuloso for this guide to feeding sexy shrimp!

A Simple Guide To Feeding Sexy Shrimps

Lately I've been coming across accounts from people of sexy shrimps eating their corals. It's a tragic case but I think it's also one that can easily be avoided. Sexy shrimps are opportunistic scavengers so you can probably get away with not feeding them in a fully stock tank with fish and/or corals that are fed on a regular basis. But in a small tank all to themselves and with corals that don't need to be fed regularly, spot feeding them is important in order to keep them happy and to prevent them from eating your corals. I thought I'd share my technique with people who are cautious about getting these little guys or current owners who may be having some trouble getting their shrimps to eat. I've even included photos to make this more fun.

Feeding them is surprisingly easy and requires very little time. I feed mine with shrimp pellets every other day.

I happen to use Omega One Shrimp Pellets (quite disturbing if you really think about it) and they absolutely love it. But really, any pellets will do.

You will need forceps to spot feed the shrimp. You can get Aquatic Forceps from Foster & Smith which also come in handy for aquascaping and for moving and poking at things in your tank.



Lalani also suggested mechanics forceps so I suppose those will work as well if you can find them.

Step 1: Find a good size pellet that's just the right portion for your shrimp. A pellet that's too big leaves a big mess and one that's too small may end up floating off and getting lost from their grip.




Step 2: Dip the pellet in the water and allow it to soak up a bit. It also helps to shake it off a little to get rid of air bubbles. This keeps the pellet from floating away.




Step 3: Spot feed. Sexy shrimps have a good sense of smell (or taste?) and will come running the moment they sense food. Notice the other shrimp running towards the front.



These guys are greedy eaters and don't like to share. This one has decided to snatch the pellet all to himself...



...so it's a good idea to make sure they each get their own.

As you can see, a well-fed sexy is a happy sexy. And one that's too busy munching on their own pellet instead of your corals.

SWEET! Can't wait to see everyone's pics!

-texx

i had a pair of SS that inhabited a 10 g nano. they did GREAT for about a year. then, they continued to do great while eating a healthy diet of ricordea and acropora until i finally caught them and got rid of them. I know every one will deny that this happens. i know that putting the info out there will get you to question my competency so let me say that i have kept reef aquariums for 12 years and nanos for 5 years and while i know that being a molecular geneticist doesn't mean i'm a marine biologist, i hope it can assure you that im not a total moron and that im used to looking for very very small changes in complex systems and making good observations. in the 4 months since i have removed the shrimp the tank looks better than ever.

Guess I'll start this off with pics of mine.








Thats one thing I will add to the original post. You're not alone! Mine will munch on corals if I don't feed them every day. Its common. How often did you target feed them?
There is no need to be so defensive, and welcome to NR!

The Sexy Club is official! I'm so glad this thread is finally up. Thanks Lalani, you did a superb job at gathering some basic info on these guys. As for me, I can't get enough sexy! I think everyone should have some in their tanks. Unfortunately some people have had bad experiences with these guys nibbling at their corals so hopefully this thread will serve as a good place to gain knowledge and support for both sexy owners and people who are looking to have something intriguing and fun in their tanks!


These are my sexies:








Sexy pyramid! This is a rare shot of them together:




Here's a pic of them huddled together during drip acclimation:

This is going to be great! Welcome to the Sexy Club!

Yay! How fun! I have been trying to get good pictures of my sexies but I still haven't perfected getting good shots of small things in my tank. And my 2 sexies mainly hang out on a rock right up front and they are always together!

I bought some sinking pellets for them yesterday and they still didn't eat. But I guess if they get hungry they will right? I will keep trying! Once I get know they will eat I think I will see if my LFS can order me 3 more.

Lalani thanks for starting the thread! This is going to be so much fun!

Jenn, they may still be getting accustomed to their new tank. Give them a few days to settle in, and keep trying to feed them. Even if they don't eat what you give them, they will most likely eat stuff off the rocks.

Oh oh I have a pair! Going to get more today, I can't get a picture yet, but hopefully soon. I like to sit and watch them dance to "I'm bringin sexy back" its hilarious!

Thanks. That is what I was hoping. I have had one for a week and the other for just 3 days so I figured the changes must throw them off. I will keep trying. At least now they don't really seem to mind when my hand is in there. Hopefully soon they will realize when the big pink rubber thing (yes I have pink gloves for messing with my tank) is there it means food!

This is the best picture I was able get of the sexies that used to be in my pico. Not a great picture, but there it is.

^^

I think that pic shows a perfect example of a male and a female. Used to be in your pico, you said? Where are they now??

I've got a few questions-

1.How do you determine the sex of these guys

2.Will thet host a duncan or acans/micros (I'd guess yes, just checking)

3.Will the be ok in a 1.5gal pico

1. The females are apparently noticeably fatter than the males

2. IME, it seems that they prefer to host soft corals (GSP, mushrooms, palys, Xenias). I have a Blasto colony that they stay away from altogether. I could be wrong though and hopefully someone else who's got sexies hosting LPS can chime in.

3. I've seen sexies in some of the smallest picos on here so I'm sure one will be fine in a 1.5g pico.

Hey thanks! i'll be starting a 1.5gal pico soon and wanted sexies so I just wanted make sure that it would be ok. I think they'd host a duncan due to it looking so close to a nem.

Hm... you may be right about that. I'd say it's worth a try!

Are sexy shrimp aggressive?

They were among the casualties when my son squirted lotion in my pico I have given serious consideration to getting several for my 12g, but I am afraid fish would pick on them.

Seems like things were under control while I was gone.
Sexies are more prone to host corals that resemble anemones... LPS like frogspawn, torch, and hammer. Xenia. Tall zoas and palys. Ricordea mushrooms, etc. I'm not so certain about duncans or acans, but you can try. Just remember that they may not host anything at all.


Nope, they are completely peaceful. Males may be protective of their females during breeding though.



I remember your thread about the lotion, that really sucked! But kids will be kids.

Not at all! Sometimes they squabble amongst each other especially during feeding time but for the most part they're peaceful. They're also not afraid to put hermit crabs in their place but they're not bullies in any way.

Can sexy shrimp be with other kinds of shrimp?

Sorry about the questions but I have been wanting a sexy shrimp for a long time, well three weeks, and my 3 gal pico is finally cycled and has 2 snails with 3 small crabs. There are no sexies in my area at the moment but I want to stock my tank (and get rid of a few pods). So could I get a sexy later in the near future even if I got a different shrimp today?

What other shrimp were you planning to add? All but the smallest shrimp are not suitable for picos, because of size restraints. And if your cycle just recently ended, I would wait for at least a month before adding any shrimp at all. They really do better in stable tanks.

How would my Fire Shrimp react if I were to add a couple of these into my 14g BC? I know I can't add another Fire Shrimp but how would he react to other shimp from a different species?

I have no experience with fire shrimp, but they are supposed to be peaceful. As with any critters, it all depends on the individual. Just remember people, sexies like to be kept in odd numbered groups over 3!

What about harleqin shrimp.

Harlequins are peaceful, I believe. They really aren't suitable for picos, and you do realize the amount of care these guys need, right? They only eat starfish! $$$

Oh wow
I did not do enough research.

I have called many different places within 15 miles of where I live and nobody has sexy shrimp. One guy thought that I was making a joke and started geting an attitude with me. He told me that there is no such as a sexy shrimp. What a moron.

So what is a good small shrimp for a 3 gal pico?

None of my LFSs carry sexy shrimp, so I had to get one to order mine. They didn't know anything about sexies either. In a 3gal., you are really limited to either sexy anemone shrimp or bumble bee shrimp, which I have no personal experience. Maybe someone else has other suggestions.

Here is a picture of my Sexy Shrimp.

A


They like their Menage e Troi

I have never seen any bumble bee shrimp at my LFS either. I have found one place near me that says that they will have sexies by the middle of the week. I guess that I will have to wait.

Thanks for all of the help .

No prob, Mr. Glass, hope you get your sexy on!

hecsrt-4, great pics! Looks like one lucky little male (left) and his two lovely women (right).

great thread so far-

Added a few more zoa and mushroom frags today during w/c on the pico - So far the trio just likes the back of the tank, only periodically showing themselves out in the front. Will try and adjust the flow again tomorrow to see if that's the problem.

Luckily I was home today - The hagen elite mini I was using to keep the prime in my utube decided to fry - I happened to be walking by and heard something funny coming from the pico - I looked and all of a sudden heard sizzling and saw smoke coming from the "sump" - I immediately pulled the mini out and pulled the plug. Looks like the power cord seal was breached. So far it doesn't look like there are any problems with the shrimp.

Utube overflow may be the wrong choice here - I am considering disconnecting the "back to back" sump and just going with an ac20 hob filter

I haven't posted pics yet cuz the shrimp haven't been visible

Wow, what a crazy thing to happen, and you were walking by at just the right time!
Its amazing how many things can go wrong with these tanks. I'm just waiting for something to blow, crack, break, stick, or fry on my tanks.

I have an AC mini on the back of the Sexy Tank on full flow and the shrimp seem happy with it.

Thanks he is a lucky little guy. He just finished eating Rods Food too, that he took from the frogspawn that they are hosting.

I am just starting a 75G and was considering 3-5 sexies, how do they do in a large tank? For fish I am considering:

1 lawnmower blenny
2 ocerelas clowns
1 Coral Beauty Angelfish
maybe a mandarin much later

Would sexies be OK with these fish?

The blenny, mandarin, and occelaris clowns shouldn't bother them at all, but I'm not sure about the coral beauty. Maybe someone else will know. But the main issue would be: If you put even 10 sexy shrimp in a 75gal. tank, you will most likely never see them. They are tiny and in a tank that size with larger fish (larger than gobies), they will probably stay hidden in the rocks.Then there is an issue of them possibly having a problem getting enough food and they could begin nipping at your corals. Its completely up to you, because I know I love these little guys, but you probably won't ever see them in a tank that size.

does anyone know if any other shrimp can be kept with sexies ?
such as : Pep, Skunk or Fire ?

I finally got a couple okay pictures of my sexies! Here they are. These were just taken this morning.


The last picture is my tank this morning. My brother just gave so great frags yesterday so now my tank is finally starting to get some color!

This is my first time posting pics and I don't think I did it right. I hope they show up. If not I will try again tonight.

What do ya know! I did it right!

Ha ha! I love this pic! They look like they're mooning the camera.

jennifro, great pics! Do they stay in that corner all the time?

As for keeping sexies with other shrimps, I think it varies from shrimp to shrimp. Constantocean kept a peppermint shrimp in his sexy tank and they got along just fine. Not sure about other shrimps though so if anyone else with any experience can chime in it would be great!

Like fab said, it all depends!



Cuties!!!!!!!!!
Looks like two females!

Hey guys! I went out of town to the boonies for Easter and just got back. Great work on the thread Lalani! I left early Friday morning and just got back. I acclimated my 5 sexies into my 2.5 gallon on Thursday and was so scared coming into the house thinking all sorts of things could have gone wrong with them. But thankfully they were ok. I did a head count and found each of them standing at the very top of the corals at the tippy top of the tank. It was hilarious. Each of them on a different coral, waving their tails in the current. I was so glad to see that they all made it! I meant to ask you Lalani & The Fabulous Shrimp Pimp before I left on Friday: what do you guys feed your sexies? I got them flake food that is pirulina enriched and some pellets with cyclopeeze. I fed some of each before I left but didn't have time to check if they ate it or not.

BTW: There was a previous question about keeping Harlequins with sexies in a pico. I have a Harlequin and from what I can tell, he is not aggressive at all. I have him in my 3.5 gallon and feed him one sand sifting starfish a month. It takes him a while to eat it all.

Oh, and for those of you interested in sexies and can't find them at your LFS, I got mine here: http://cgi.ebay.com/SEXY-shrimp-invertebra...1QQcmdZViewItem

They came out to $12 shipped (I am in the same state as the seller though) but even if they were more $, I would definately recommend Christina at piece-of-the-reef. She has excellent prices on livestock and shipping rates, and awesome customer service.

Thanks! When I got the first one last Tuesday she was all over the tank all the time. Then I brought the other one home on Thursday and since then they were staying pretty close to that rock. Yesterday my brother game me a mushroom, pipe organ, green star polyp, and the thing that looks like a xenia (it looks just like one to me but my bro said the guy he got it from said it wasn't) and a couple left handed hermits. Oh and that green algae stuff to that is back in the left corner. From the time I got up today they have been pretty much all over the tank. So I don't know if they are feeling more at home or if they are just really into the new stuff! But the still stay pretty close to each other. They still aren't really eating. But I will try again tonight and see how they do.


Thanks, I think so too! I was thinking the one on the right might be a male. He is a bit thinner and smaller then the one on the left. But I am not really sure. Any one else think they might both be female?

woooooooooooooow
i wouldnt mind having a 15,000g POOL as my tank
thats really really cool

phishyaly: So glad to hear your little guys are doing well, they are such characters!
I feed mine flake food and I think Fab drops pellets in for them.

It is pretty cool but not very pretty. I wonder how they get stuff out of it. They must have to scuba dive in or something? Now that would be cool!

In that case, I wanna work there!!!

I have my shrimp in a 12g, but the previous owner had them in a 40B. They used to hang out under the frogspawn, so they were visible. I dont know about 5 in a 75g, I would go with atleast 7 if you want to do them in a bigger tank.

Fabuloso they are mooning the camera

Im having a problem with my sexy he likes to go over the overflow does this happen to anyone else.

He is in a 12 gallon aquapod good thing he gets stuck in my filter floss or he would be in the chambers for good.

Hmm, I don't have any overflows, so maybe someone else can chime in. I know that mine sometime like to stand on the filter intake and never get stuck, even with the AC mini on full flow. Its strange for a sexy to go so high up and get stuck in an overflow. I'm just guessing that he is the only sexy shrimp in your tank? If so, he may be searching for other sexies. OR he is a thrill seeker!