Shrimp guidelines

[hjrosas]

I'm just starting my 30 gallon reef (It's been running for a month now with live rock and a chromis, and cleanup crew) and I want to add shrimp. I see that most of you keep them in pairs, but can they be kept singly? I was thinking about adding 1 skunk cleaner, 1 peppermint, 1 blood red, and 2 sexy anemone shrimps. Is this too much? Does anyone know the guidelines for adding shrimp to an aquarium?

[Chameleon Bob]

For keeping them as singles, I've had a single skunk and coral banded for a long time. My peppermint started of as a group 5 but noticed when the aipstasias were gone they started to disappear to only 2 and now 1. Just not enough food for all of them.

[Ninong]

Instead of one Lysmata amboinensis, one L. wurdemanni and one L. debelius, you would be much better off chosing two of the same species. If you get two of the same species, you will have a pair and you can observe mating behavior and you will be adding beneficial food your your system in the form of the hatching shrimp larvae.

Even if you do get two of the same species, you will still have to allow enough space for them to each have a separate territory. In a 30-gallon aquarium, I think two Lysmata shrimp would be plenty.

As far as the sexy shrimp (Thor amboinensis) are concerned, it's better if you have a suitable host for them to call home. If you don't have an anemone, then maybe a hairy mushroom or some green star polyps or something similar.

One final caution. I wouldn't try to keep a banded coral shrimp in a 30-gallon aquarium with other shrimp. Even though you didn't mention them, I just thought I would stick that in here. They're too aggressive.

[rluix]

I'm just starting my 30 gallon reef (It's been running for a month now with live rock and a chromis, and cleanup crew) and I want to add shrimp. I see that most of you keep them in pairs, but can they be kept singly? I was thinking about adding 1 skunk cleaner, 1 peppermint, 1 blood red, and 2 sexy anemone shrimps. Is this too much? Does anyone know the guidelines for adding shrimp to an aquarium?

Are you telling me you cycled with live fish and even with a cleanup crew?

[reeferguru]

Shrimp are very fascinating and definitely add to a reef aquarium. The addition of one or more and varied species of shrimp is fine as I have three different species of cleaner shrimp with no problems. I also have a Blood Red Shrimp in a 14 gallon Nano tank so as far as size of aquarium is concerned, it really makes no difference.
The Sexy Shrimp, however, I would stay away from since they are very delicate and remain very small as well as do better in the presence of an anemone. Possibly housing one in a refugium, or small nano tank may be an option, but you probably will not see the sexy shrimp much otherwise, plus be careful with fish and other inverts that may consume the minute shrimp. Clove polyps and mushrooms can be a surrogate host for the sexy shrimp, or even other types of coral.
Acclimation is key for the success and health of any shrimp!!! They tend to die in short time if their are differences in salinity, pH and alkalinity especially! Drip them into your aquarium for a half hour or more for the best chances of success with these truly beautiful animals.