SeafanEmergencies

Shrimp

Camel shrimp

Rhynchocinetes uritai

Also sold as Dancing or candy shrimp

Avoid in most reef tanks

Group
Shrimp
Care level
Beginner
With corals
Not reef safe

What does the camel shrimp do in a reef tank?

Scavenger

With corals: No: may nip colonial anemones, mushrooms and leathers

How many should you keep?

One US gallon is 3.785 litres and one UK gallon is 4.546 litres, so a "per gallon" rule depends on whose gallon it means.

What can go wrong?

Coral nipping

Which tankmates are risky?

Fish

Fish that may eat or harass it.

Avoid together (7)

  • Royal dottybackRoyal dottyback eats ornamental shrimp such as the camel shrimp.
  • Neon dottybackNeon dottyback eats ornamental shrimp such as the camel shrimp.
  • Yellow coris wrasseYellow coris wrasse eats ornamental shrimp such as the camel shrimp.
  • Melanurus wrasseMelanurus wrasse eats ornamental shrimp such as the camel shrimp.
  • Flame hawkfishFlame hawkfish eats ornamental shrimp such as the camel shrimp.
  • Longnose hawkfishLongnose hawkfish eats ornamental shrimp such as the camel shrimp.
  • Falco hawkfishFalco hawkfish eats ornamental shrimp such as the camel shrimp.

Take care (8)

  • Yellow watchman gobyYellow watchman goby may eat very small shrimp; adult camel shrimps are usually safe.
  • Orange spotted gobyOrange spotted goby may eat very small shrimp; adult camel shrimps are usually safe.
  • Orchid dottybackOrchid dottyback may eat very small shrimp; adult camel shrimps are usually safe.
  • Magenta dottybackMagenta dottyback may eat very small shrimp; adult camel shrimps are usually safe.
  • Pyjama cardinalfishPyjama cardinalfish may eat very small shrimp; adult camel shrimps are usually safe.
  • Six line wrasseSix line wrasse may eat very small shrimp; adult camel shrimps are usually safe.
  • Leopard wrasseLeopard wrasse may eat very small shrimp; adult camel shrimps are usually safe.
  • Yellow assessorYellow assessor may eat very small shrimp; adult camel shrimps are usually safe.

Other invertebrates

Invertebrates it may harm, or that may harm it.

None known.

These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

Sources

  1. Practical Fishkeeping (UK), essential cleaners for the reef tank (date not shown)Read 21 October 2026, read in full.

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