Blue-legged Coral Shrimp

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Distributed throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific, from East Africa to Indonesia and Vanuatu. Found in marine caves, rock crevices, and shaded reef overhangs.

Taxonomy: Member of the family Stenopodidae. Features a spiny body and three pairs of claws, with the third pair being greatly enlarged and banded. Grows to about 3-4 cm.

Social Behavior: Territorial and aggressive towards conspecifics of the same sex. Usually kept solitary or in mated male-female pairs. Can be cryptic, staying near its cave shelter.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Body displays striking electric blue walking legs, with red and white banded claws and torso. Minimal dimorphism; mature females can be recognized when carrying green eggs.

Tank Setup: Suitable for tanks of 8-10 gallons or larger. Live rock is essential, arranged to provide dark overhangs and small caves where the shrimp can hang upside down during the day.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous scavenger. In nature, acts as a cleaner shrimp. In captivity, accepts frozen mysis, brine shrimp, chopped seafood, and high-quality sinking pellets. Feed daily.

Water Quality: Keep reef parameters stable: SG 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4, temperature 22-28°C. Sensitive to salinity shocks and elevated nitrates. Strictly zero copper levels.

Compatibility and Tankmates: 100% reef-safe with corals and anemones. Compatible with small, peaceful reef fish. Do not house with large predators or other boxer shrimp species (Stenopus hispidus) to prevent fatal fights.

Aquarium Breeding: Mated pairs readily spawn, with the female carrying green eggs. Larval stages are pelagic and delicate, and do not survive standard aquarium filtration.

Risks and Diseases: Loss of limbs during bad molts due to low calcium or iodine. Highly vulnerable to opportunistic fish during the post-molt phase when its new shell is soft.