Unfortunately, the mechanisms that prevent larger
fishes from eating cleaner shrimps in their natural habitat do not always function reliably in the confines of the
aquarium. The sometimes hectic swimming behavior of
newly introduced and still disoriented dwarf shrimps
may trigger a feeding reflex in many fishes, particularly
surgeonfishes, wrasses, and hawkfishes. For this reason,
Urocaridella species should be housed only with small
fishes that are unlikely to turn predatory.
The Fu Ture Ou TlOOk
Although this article has detailed only a few of the multitude of dwarf shrimps of potential relevance for the
marine aquarium hobby, I hope that I
have awakened your interest, above all
in those species that are under-repre-sented in the trade, thanks to lack of
demand.
In light of the trend towards nano
reefs, dwarf shrimps are a viable alternative to their large relatives, which
usually look out of place in very small
aquariums and often cannot be correctly accommodated. The keeping of dwarf
shrimps also opens up possibilities in
terms of breeding marine life. A number
of species (for example, Thor amboinensis, Halocaridina rubra) are already being bred in captivity, and other species
(for example, Urocaridella antonbruuni)
offer the hope of future success.
Specialists in the freshwater aquarium hobby have long maintained and
bred certain dwarf shrimps (for example, Caridina spp.), and it would
be wonderful if the same were to happen in the marine aquarium hobby, so
that these fascinating little crustaceans
would not need to pursue a shadowy existence, secondary to corals and fishes.
This would also further the ideal of a
sustainable marine aquarium hobby,
lessening pressures on wild reefs and
making rare species more readily available.
Knop, D. 2009. Nano-Riffaquarien. Einrichtung und Pflege
von Kleinst-Meeresaquarien. Natur und Tier Verlag, Münster,
Germany.
Krause, I. 2008a. Raritäten: Gnathophyllum americanum.
KORALLE 51, 9 ( 3): 14.
—. 2008b. Raritäten: Periclimenes brevicarpalis. KORALLE 52, 9
( 4): 14.
—. 2009. Raritäten: Urocaridella antonbrunii. KORALLE 54, 9 ( 6):
15.
—. (In press.) Zerggarnelen im Meerwasseraquarium. Natur
and Tier Verlag, Münster, Germany.
Debelius, H. 2009. Krebsführer. Jahr Verlag, Hamburg, Germany.
Kuiter, R. and H. Debelius. 2009. World Atlas of Marine Fauna.
Kosmos, Stuttgart, Germany.
reFerences:
Becker, J. H. A., L. M. Curtis, and A. S. Grutter.
2005. Cleaner Shrimp Use a Rocking Dance
to Advertise Cleaning Service to Clients.
Curr. Biol. 15: 760–764.
Fautin, D. G., C. C. Guo, and J. S. Hwang.
1995. Costs and benefits of the symbiosis
between the anemoneshrimp Periclimenes
brevicarpalis and its host, Entacmaea
quadricolor. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.,
Vol. 129: 77–84.
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Additional Features
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Additional Features
Dual-option Mounting Brackets
Micro Valve Flow Control
Removable Coral Racks
Tinted body
Cover
Deluxe Models
Recirculating Pump & Assembly
