Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Likely Reef Tank Suitable
Likely Fish-Only Tank Suitable
Range: Western Atlantic Ocean: Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean, and also East Atlantic Ocean: Canary Islands, Madeira and Cape Verde.
Size: 2.5 inches (6 cm)
Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow coral reef and rocky environments.
General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the home aquarium trade.
Can be kept in small groups and will come directly onto your hand to take pieces of clam, shrimp, krill, mussels, frozen mysis, fresh fish flesh and the hair off the back of your hand.
It will set up cleaning stations.
Frequently in view during the day, yet may pick/steal food from corals, but does not seem to be destructive.
Sensitive to temperatures above the low eighties.
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Malacostraca
Order: Decapoda
Family: Hippolytidae
Genus: Lysmata
FYI: It's similar in appearance to L. amboinensis, and sometimes called the Caribbean L. Amboinensis. See that species for a discussion on the difference, and this species requirements, as they are almost the same.
See the 'Introduction' to this Group for more information as to safety with other species of cleaner shrimp and the molting process.
Experience Level: Beginner
Diet: Carnivore
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium
Coral Safe: Yes
Fish Safe: Yes
Invertebrate Safe: Yes
Acclimation Time: Shrimp are 'very' sensitive to specific gravity/salinity changes. Therefore, be sure to adjust the bag's water to that of the aquarium in which it will be placed by slowly adding small amounts of aquarium water to the bag every few minutes. In most cases, this process should take at least 15 minutes.
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Calcium (Ca): 380 - 430 mg/l
Alkalinity: 2.5 - 3.0 meq/l
Phosphate (PO4): <0.05 mg/l
Magnesium (Mg): approx. 1350 mg/l (relate to specific gravity) Extremely important for molting!
Strontium (Sr) 8 - 10 mg/l
Iodine (I) Trace element additives containing iodine should be used as recommended by their makers, as iodine is also vital for the molting process.
Temperature Range: 67 - 79°F (218 - 26°C)
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Lighting: PAR ratings N/A
Water Movement: WM 1 - 2
Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025
pH: 8.0 - 8.4
