StenIDF

FAQs about Coral Banded Shrimp, Other Boxers Identification

Related Articles: Coral Banded Shrimp, A Few Common Shrimps for the Marine Aquarium by James W. Fatherree,

Fountain Shrimp? Possibly Stenopus earlei - 5/26/09
<Hello Doran, Lynn here this afternoon.>
I recently got this shrimp. It was in with some Fountain Shrimp, and was sold to as such. However its coloring is very different then what I am used to seeing on Fountain Shrimp.
<Yes it is, it's reversed. Where the typical Fountain Shrimp/Ghost Boxing Shrimp (Stenopus pyrsonotus) is white, this one is red and vice versa. The good news is that I've found photos of what appears to be the same shrimp, identified as Stenopus earlei. The bad news is that all of the photos are from one site only (a Japanese dive site). I've looked through every search engine and book I have but have found no corroborating information to support this ID. The common names for S. earlei are Earle's Coral Shrimp and the Two stripe Coral Shrimp and its range is Hawaii/Indo-West Pacific region. Please see the following photos for comparison: http://www.ishigaki-diving.com/photo/029.html
http://www.ishigaki-banana.com/3diary/diary_images/B2007_05/052617.jpg >
Also I am fairly certain that it is female, as it was holding eggs when I got it.
<Neat>
Photo is attached.
<Thanks>
Doran
Vancouver, WA
<Take care, Lynn (Everett, WA)>

Help with Shrimp Identification: Microprosthema sp. - 1/23/08 Hey gang! <Hi there! What can I do for you this evening?> First of all, WONDERFUL site! If I ever have a question about anything tank related, I can pretty much count on the answers being found in the depths of your site! <Why thank you! I know what you mean. It's always the first place I go to when looking for information.> Now, to the question at hand. I realize that there are literally thousands of different types of shrimp and crabs, but I am trying to identify one in particular. It is an almost solid red shrimp with claws similar to that of a boxer (coral banded shrimp). <That's an excellent observation. Your shrimp is related to these.> The body is a bit different though, as it is much shorter. I have looked through numerous books and Googled till my fingers were numb, but have gotten nowhere. It was captured, photographed and released during a dive in south/central Florida. I have seen them a few times while diving, but they have not been as numerous CBS's and peppermint shrimp. No one can seem to identify this guy. Any ideas? <Yes, indeed! It's a shrimp in the genus Microprosthema, possibly Microprosthema semilaeve/aka the "Crimson Coral Shrimp", and a little beauty at that! The reason it reminds you of a CBS is for good reason as both are in the same family: Stenopodidae. Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot of photographic documentation of these shrimp on the internet, but I did find a few photos for comparison (of M. semilaeve). The first link has great detail, but the color looks off. The second is of the same species, with what appears to be a more likely color. http://striweb.si.edu/bocas_database/details.php?id=2533 http://www.nhm.org/guana/bvi-invt/bvi-surv/images/shri-i01/vc1105p.htm > Thanks again for all you guys do, -wuf <You're very welcome and thank you! That's a neat little shrimp! Take care --Lynn>

Re: Help with Shrimp Identification: Microprosthema sp. - 1/24/08 WOW..... <Hi!> I have to say I am impressed that you were able to track that little critter down, much less identify it! I searched the scientific name and STILL couldn't find a photo of it! Not sure where you were able to find these picts, but I'm glad you could help me out. <It was a real pleasure. The few photos I found were thanks to Google Image search, as well as several other search engines (using the 'Image' category). There's just not a whole lot of photo documentation out there. That's why I was so glad that you'd written us and included a photo!> So, does anyone know if a Microprosthema semilaeve/aka the "Crimson Coral Shrimp" is reef safe?! (just kidding!) <Heee! You just had to ask that, didn't you! <g> Actually, I would guess that they're similar to other Stenopids -- territorial, aggressive towards other crustaceans, but otherwise a neat little shrimp.> Best,
-Wuf
<Take care. -Lynn>

Yellow/Gold Coral Banded shrimp Stenopus scutellatus 5/19/03 Hi, Thanks for your response. I think I have found the species: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=23&pCatId=685 Yellow banded Coral Shrimp <Stenopus scutellatus> Can I still assume that he is likely to be a danger to the fire shrimp as he gets larger. <indeed to any small clawed shrimp... although this species is rather reclusive... even for a boxing shrimp> He is about 1/2 his full size at the moment and is causing no problems, much less aggressive than the fire shrimp themselves. I have a 50G tank with plenty of live rock i.e. hiding places, caves etc Should I take him back or wait and watch? Cheers, John <its a tough call, John. I would have never recommended it or tried it personally. Who's to say what will happen down the road. I am somewhat concerned for long-term prospects as the tank is only big enough for one shrimp's natural territory. I'd feel a lot safer to sit back and observe if the aquarium was larger/longer. Still... you have the best position to make a decision in actual observance of the behavior of these particular individuals... by day at least. In the US, both of these shrimps are uncommon and expensive. My advice would be to play it safe and separate them... although do not move the new shrimp so soon (days ) after purchase... too many moves since import could stress and kill it anyway. Kind regards, Anthony>

Re: Coral Banded Shrimp ID 7/15/06 Thanks for the information guys. <<Did it help?>> I had read the links you gave, but was not able to determine which based on what was there. <<Guess not <grin> >> I finally did end up just trying to look up a listing with picture for all of the Stenopus species. Luckily there are not too many. I finally found a page on reefcorner.org that listed species and a brief description. While this main page is in another country, it did give me a scientific name that I could search with, and found a picture of on another site. It looks almost exactly like the Stenopus cyanoscelis shown. <<"Almost"...but?>> Now I just need to find some more detailed information regarding this subspecies. I would guess based on how hard it was to find any information specific to this shrimp that he is fairly rare or just not brought into the hobby. I did find that there must be similar species if not the same that occurs in Australia because of re)description regarding the Stenopus cyanoscelis and a new Stenopus chrysexanthus. If you know where I can find more specific information regarding these, please let me know. <<I just did some looking around and based on your earlier description, what you have might be Stenopus scutellatus. Take a look here and see what you think: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=685 >> Thank you in advance. Chuck Davis <<Regards, Eric Russell>>

Re: Coral Banded Shrimp ID, Help! Stenopus cyanoscelis 7/15/06 Bob, I'm struggling to provide/find any real info (in English, anyway) to help this guy out. Can you CC Helmut Debelius re to see if he can/would help? Eric <Will cc Helmut... but this is a valid species: http://www.google.com/search?q=stenopus+cyanoscelis> Coral Banded Shrimp ID III - 07/16/06 Eric, <<Chuck>> I looked at the picture you had on Live Aquaria. I had looked at it previously, but in the description, it very specifically says it has yellow legs. The reason I stated before that it "almost" looked like the ones I have, was due to the fact, you are trying to compare a picture to an individual, and because the one I have is very small also. <<Indeed...and obviously, you are in a better position to make the call>> I have included a link to the picture I found of it http://www.meerwasser lexikon.de/de/55/839/Stenopus/cyanoscelis.htm and also of the one that refers to them as the blue leg boxer shrimp http://www.reefcorner.org/species/family.asp?FAMILY_ID=159 <<Mmm, yes...quite similar but for the "legs". Too bad none of these sites offer "multiple language" translations>> Thank you in advance, Chuck Davis <<Doesn't look like I'm helping you much here Chuck, you obviously have searched out well what little info there seems to be. I'll ask Bob if maybe he can CC Helmut Debelius and see if we can get some information re this species (Stenopus cyanoscelis). EricR>> <There are a few other similar-appearing Stenopid species... Bob Fenner>

Gold or yellow CBS? Gold (Stenopus scutellatus) 12/06/2007 Hello crew! <Hi Danny! Mich with you today.> I recently moved my tank (4 months ago) without any incident thanks to information on this site. <Great to hear!> Before doing so, I sold my shrimp back to the LFS--I feared they are so sensitive they couldn't handle the transport. Anyway, today I purchased a coral banded shrimp. It was mislabeled as a "plain" CBS for $11 but I quickly recognized it was a little different because of the yellow-gold body. Of course I pointed out the error, but was still given the $11 price, as I frequent the store often. <Lucky you!> So, the guy told me it was a gold CBS (zanzibaricus). Naturally, I went online to try and confirm it while Mr. Shrimp was getting the drip treatment and behold there is also another Stenopus that looks similar called a yellow CBS (scutellatus). <Yes.> My shrimp is only about an inch at most across, little guy. The yellow is mostly on the upper part of the body, the claws and abdomen are banded red and white (attached a pic). <Is a Golden coral shrimp (Stenopus scutellatus), which can be differentiated from Stenopus zanzibaricus by the antennae, the former being long and white, the latter being red.> I could not find a description that differentiated the gold from the yellow nor if there was any significant difference in size or behavior...can you? I know whether it is gold or yellow seems silly, but it's important to me that I can properly identify my friends! <All about the bragging rights, eh?> The tank is 45 gallons, has about 40lbs of live rock, and about 5" deep layer of aragonite substrate. I have 192 watts of PC lighting and a Remora skimmer. Temp 78-80, ph 8.2, ammonia 0, nitrites 0, and nitrates 10ppm. <Zero is better.> Inhabitants include: 2 ocellaris clowns, 1 black-capped Basslet, 1 black-tail humbug, <Yikes... can grow up to be big bad boys!> 1 yellow tail damsel, 2 small blue hermit crabs, and a Hawaiian feather duster. Also, I have a handful, perhaps two handfuls, of Stomatellids and Nerites that hitchhiked on my live rock and survived the move. <You're having some pretty good luck here, though the Stenopus may find them tasty!> Thanks for your help in advanced! <Welcome!> Danny N. <Mich L.> Tampa, FL <Gouldsboro, PA... but visiting your fine state soon!>

Re: Gold or yellow CBS? Gold (Stenopus scutellatus) 12/07/2007 Hello Mich! <Hi Danny!> Thank you for the reply; <Welcome!> however, I am a little confused. <Heehee! My normal state...> So I definitely have a scutellatus, right? <Yes, white antennae = scutellatus.> The confusion is because of those pesky common names, <That's why it is always better to use scientific names, both genus and species...> as I have read that scutellatus is usually referred to as a yellow CBS and zanzibaricus as the gold CBS. <I have seen the names used interchangeably... with both species... Makes things nice and clear... eh?> Scutellatus is a little bit smaller out of the commonly offered CBS too from what I found. <Just don't try to keep him with any other CBS.> The humbug I have is actually kept in check by both the clowns for the moment. <Hmmm, sounds temporary...> I expect when she gets bigger, the tables might turn-- <Very well may...> at that point I will fetch her out of the tank! <Good luck with that!> Thank you again <Quite welcome, Danny!> and have a great visit here, <Thank you! I do hope it is most enjoyable.> the weather is great! <Well, it doesn't take much to beat the 6 degree F temperatures and snow that was in the Pocono Mountains this a.m.! Mich> Danny
Tampa, FL

Please visit our Sponsors