Encyclopaedia
Alain's Snapping Shrimp
Alpheus alaincrosnieri
A deep-water snapping shrimp, suitable for symbiotic pairings with small reef gobies.
- Family
- Alpheidae
- Origin
- Oceano Pacifico occidentale: scogliere coralline profonde delle Filippine.
- Origin
- Tropical oceans and reefsSouth and Southeast Asia
- Tank use
- Used in 0 tanks
Share
22 °C - 26 °C
8.1 - 8.4
Marine
Spazzino
Alta
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Western Pacific Ocean: deep coral reef zones in the Philippines.
Taxonomy: Belongs to the Alpheidae family. It exhibits a morphology typical of reef-dwelling scavenger invertebrates, growing to a size of 4.5 cm.
Social Behavior: Very peaceful and secretive. It leads a benthic lifestyle, spending much of its time sheltered within crevices or sandy burrows.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The coloration consists of cryptic or distinct markings helpful for camouflage. Sexual dimorphism is not externally prominent.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Tank Setup: Requires a reef aquarium of at least 80.0 liters with stable rockwork. Provide shaded areas and caves to shelter during molting.
Diet and Feeding: Omnivore. Acts as a scavenger, eating leftover foods, micro-crustaceans, organic debris, and sinking pellets.
Water Quality: Reef parameters with pH 8.1-8.4, gravity 1.023-1.025, and low nitrates are critical.
Compatibility and Tankmates: Peaceful. Reef-safe. Do not house with large, aggressive fish species that might consider it prey.
Aquarium Breeding: Simultaneous hermaphrodite. Breeding is complex due to a prolonged planktonic larval phase which rarely survives.
Risks and Diseases: High sensitivity to copper-based medications. Risk of osmotic shock; requires slow drip acclimation.
Invertebrate profile
- Type
- Gambero marino
- Diet
- Onnivoro. Si nutre di detriti, piccoli pezzetti di gambero congelato e avanzi marini.
- Ecological role
- Spazzino
- Minimum group
- 1
- Adult size
- 4.5 cm
- GH
- n/a
- KH
- n/a
- TDS
- n/a
- Copper
- Alta
- Shock sensitivity
- Alta
- Calcium and minerals
- Un corretto livello di elementi marini assicura lo sviluppo robusto del guscio chitinoso.
- Molting
- Dura poche ore, ma il gambero rimane nascosto e protetto nel tunnel per giorni.
- Reproduction
- Oviparo. Riproduzione in cattività non documentata per acquari privati.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Reef-safe con coralli. Attento scavatore, può spostare piccoli frammenti sul fondo.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Other recommended species with similar care requirements and water parameters.
