Get your sexy on! *Pics added 6/2*

So I'm getting some sexy anemone shrimp for my 10gal frag/mini reef tank, it's got a frag rack on one side and a "pico reef" on the other half. I was wondering if anyone had an idea as to what would be a good number to get. I was initially thinking 3 of them. Is it best to keep them in odd numbers or would it matter if there was an even number?

 

From what I have read I think they are better kept in odd-numbered groups. It would be best if you could get a male and two females.

Not sure if you can choose the sex from where you are buying them.

I have not had any of these guys yet but do plan on getting a hareem of them for my 120 DT - was thinking more like 11 or so of them. Anyone have experience keeping them in larger groups like that?

TIA and hope this helps the OP get the answer they seek as well!

 

Yeah, I thought the odd number would be better, but just wanted to double check. IMO, I would be a little cautious of getting them for a 120, mainly because they are so small and that is such a big tank, they might get lost in there. I'm getting them from Live Aquaria bc they is no place w/in 100 miles of me that I've seen them at and the one LFS that I go to has never even heard of them.

 

This is why I want so many of them!!!

Hopefully with more than 10 we might be able to see one or two at any given time!

 

Five to seven would be a good number for that size tank.

I always suggest more sexy shrimp then you actually want for to 2 reasons. The first is often you loose one or two during acclimation. Second a few are always molting at a time, so they are hidden or not active.

Matt, had an issue with his eating his GSP and the issue I had with mine was that the zoanthids in my tank did not like being walked on my the sexys. I never saw them eating the zoanthids.

They are very cool and it's fun to watch them hang out in their little groupings. You will soon recognize the female of the harem by her size and the way she sways.

 

Ok, thanks for the advice. I've been reading up on their "coral eating" habits and have pellets and other food to keep them happy and away from my corals. Most sites have said that a daily or every other day feeding will keep them away from corals.

 

I will say that when I had them, I read that they eat the slime or mucous of soft corals. Mine did routinely hand out on my kenya tree, among the branches and at the base. The shrimp also loved to hang out on my RBTA, which made for some really nice images. The anemones were never bothered by them nor was the kenya tree.

 

recently purchased 3 of the sexy shrimp. i did see one go in front of the return lines, and get blown to the other side of the tank in the back. i cant see back there so i wonder if its alive back there or not. hoping it hooks back up with the others. 2 i see all the time they hang out on the tube anemones. really would like to have at least 5 total. the 2 i see, seem to have grown since being put in the tank. am thinking how nice it would be to have a group of them thats full grown. when they arrived they were the size of small bugs, i thought the bag was empty at first. LOL

 

Ok, well I placed the order for 5 of them. They should be in Wednesday next week. Holiday weekend and it being Thursday pushed the delivery date back some. I'll post pics when they come in.

 

Pic update 6/2

Well they came in yesterday and man are these guys tiny. LA wasn't joking when they said that was the size. They all seem healthy and to be doing well. There was only one that I'm a little nervous about at this point mainly because it had molted during shipping. Here are some pics: