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Invertebrates |  |
Phylum: Arthropoda, Class: Crustacea
Range: Indo-Pacific Region
Size: 0.25 in. Space:: 10+ gal. Diet: Plankton
Reef Safe: Yes Care Level: Difficult Temperament: Peaceful
Natural History: The genus Synalpheus includes some shrimp that are eusocial, like ants and termites. Some Synalpheus shrimp in the Caribbean live in large social groups and defend each other in their colony. A sponge-dwelling colony may have over 300 members and include a single large female and maybe one male. All other colony members are workers and soldiers. Their claws are assymetrical, with the larger being capable of producing snapping noises.
Husbandry: The Synalpheus pistol shrimp should be housed among live rock and sponge. It will feed off of detritus that it grooms from the surfaces it patrols.