Karen Honeycutt, USA
Info
Alpheus randalli, Banner & Banner, 1980
Crabs (Alpheidae), also known as pistol crabs, are a species-rich family of Caridea (shrimps). They are widespread in the tropics and subtropics, many species live in coral reefs. (but some also live in brackish water or even fresh water) Pistol shrimps are bottom-dwelling (benthic). They are also poor swimmers. Some of this family live in symbiosis with gobies and sea anemones, a few even with sea cucumbers. They are therefore also known as symbiotic shrimps, although the term crayfish has become established in the aquarium trade.
Symbiotic shrimp for Stonogobiobs and Amblyeleotris gobies. Not quite as common in the trade as Alpheus bellulus but always available.
As Alpheus crayfish see little, they usually do not venture far out of the cave. They also always maintain physical contact with their partner goby. However, they are easy to keep, we even keep two in a 180 liter tank.
We also keep an Alpheus bellulus, which does not harm the much smaller Alpheus randalli.
Bottom substrate
So that the crayfish can also build a suitable cave, there should be enough coral rubble of 2 - 5 cm in size. The height of the substrate must be at least 3 - 4 cm in some places (6 cm would be optimal) so that a correspondingly large cave can be built, depending on the association partner.
Alpheus is a genus of snapper shrimp from the Alpheidae family. This genus comprises more than 250 species, making it the most species-rich genus of shrimp. As with other snapper shrimps, the claws of Alpheus are asymmetrical, with one of the claws being enlarged to produce a popping sound.
Crabs (Alpheidae), also known as pistol crabs, are a species-rich family of Caridea (shrimps). They are widespread in the tropics and subtropics, many species live in coral reefs. (but some also live in brackish water or even fresh water) Pistol shrimps are bottom-dwelling (benthic). They are also poor swimmers. Some of this family live in symbiosis with gobies and sea anemones, a few even with sea cucumbers. They are therefore also known as symbiotic shrimps, although the term crayfish has become established in the aquarium trade.
Symbiotic shrimp for Stonogobiobs and Amblyeleotris gobies. Not quite as common in the trade as Alpheus bellulus but always available.
As Alpheus crayfish see little, they usually do not venture far out of the cave. They also always maintain physical contact with their partner goby. However, they are easy to keep, we even keep two in a 180 liter tank.
We also keep an Alpheus bellulus, which does not harm the much smaller Alpheus randalli.
Bottom substrate
So that the crayfish can also build a suitable cave, there should be enough coral rubble of 2 - 5 cm in size. The height of the substrate must be at least 3 - 4 cm in some places (6 cm would be optimal) so that a correspondingly large cave can be built, depending on the association partner.
Alpheus is a genus of snapper shrimp from the Alpheidae family. This genus comprises more than 250 species, making it the most species-rich genus of shrimp. As with other snapper shrimps, the claws of Alpheus are asymmetrical, with one of the claws being enlarged to produce a popping sound.
