THE STEINHART AQUARIUM - Gulf of Guinea Science ...

will copulate the female by sliding along
side, attaching a slip-covered sperm package
(spermatophore) on to her genital opening
located right between her striding legs. The
female will find a safe place to hide and lay
the eggs, a process that dissolves the slipcover
and thus fertilizes the eggs. Gestation is usually
3-4 weeks, and the newly hatched shrimp then
fend for themselves.
Mortality/Longevity: The bee shrimp take a
little bit longer to mature and longer to hatch
than many other dwarf shrimp. The shrimp
may live up to 2 years.
Copper is toxic to the bee shrimp (and to all
dwarf shrimp).
Conservation Status: Not at risk; bred
successfully around the world for the aquarium
trade.
Remarks: Bee shrimp are good overall cleaners
for tanks, always crawling in search of food
and algae. They are non-aggressive toward
other fish.
California Bay Shrimp
Crangon franciscorum (Crangonidae)
Distribution: From southeastern Alaska to San
Diego. A common species in San Francisco Bay
and other Pacific Coast estuaries.
Habitat:. Sand or mud substrate. Euryhaline
(able to tolerate varying levels of salinity).
Appearance: The largest of common SF Bay
shrimp species: females to 4.8 cm, males to
3.7 cm.
Diet: Especially mysid shrimp; also amphipods,
bivalves, foraminifera, isopods, copepods,
plant material. Their turnover of bottom
sediments as they search for food may improve
nutrient recycling.
Reproduction and Development: Males and
females separate; females oviparous, can store
sperm; move to more saline habitat to spawn;
young seek low salinity nursery areas.
Mortality/Longevity: Males live about a year,
females to two years.
Remarks: Species abundance correlates to
increased levels freshwater outflow; numbers
are relatively low during drought years.
Once the basis of a commercial fishery in SF
Bay. Today is fished primarily for bait, with
some human consumption.
California Academy of Sciences
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Anemone Shrimp
Periclimenes venustus (Palaemonidae)
Distribution: Indo-Pacific; including Australia.
Habitat: Commonly associate with anemones
and certain corals.
Appearance: About 2.5 cm long. Light purple
body with white spots; well camouflaged on
frogspawn coral (Euphyllia spp.) a common host.
Diet: These cleaners sway and wave their
antennae, using their motion and bright colors
to attract fishes in order to feed on their dead
tissue and parasites.
Mortality/Longevity: Life span: about 2 yrs.
Remarks: Like only a few other animals, able
to live in association with anemones and corals
without being stung.
Humpback Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis (Hippolytidae)
Distribution: Red Sea to Australia; Indonesia,
Society Islands.
Habitat: Active day and night at cleaning
stations on coral and rocky reefs, 8–25 m.
Reside in pairs or groups (to 100 individuals)
in caves and crevices.
Appearance: Length to 6 cm. Dorsal redline on
tan body. Long white antennae.
Diet: Glean parasites and infected skin from
large, stationary reef fishes such as morays,
triggerfishes and groupers.
Reproduction and Development: (See L.
californica)
Remarks: Cleaner shrimp advertise their
services by their bright coloration and by
waving their very long antennae, which
contrast with the dark recess of their station.
Jacques, a character in Finding Nemo, is a
humpback cleaner shrimp.
In aquaria, cleaner shrimp are valued because
they clean not only the fish, but the tank as well.
Red Rock Shrimp
Lysmata californica (Alpheidae)
Distribution: Eastern Pacific, from Santa
Barbara to Baja California.
Habitat: Found in shallow waters among rocky
crevices
Appearance: Max length: 7.5 cm. Conspicuously
colered with longitudinal broken stripes over
a red transparent body.