Which anemone do sexy anemone shrimp prefer?

Tennyson

Active member
Just a simple question. What specific species of anemone will sexy shrimp host? Are there any specific species found with them hosting them?

I think I read somewhere that they like hosting sand/pizza anemonies especially?

All replies are appreciated. Thanks!!!
 
Mine like to hang out on a hairy mushroom.

The book Modern Coral Reef says they like the Phymanthus anemones. I usually see them referred to as Rock anemones at the LFS, but suspect Sand/Pizza is the same thing.
 
Well I know they like Cryptodendrum adhaesivum. It's the species a shrimp expert recommended I look for them on and the only species I've seen them on in the wild.
 
hmm, but would a rock/sand/pizza anemone be an ok substitute?

Where can I find cryptodendrum adhaesivum? Are they common in LFS's?
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13029235#post13029235 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by snorvich
Mine seem to gravitate towards frogspawn.

Mine do that too, but they kind of rotate between that and my duncan coral. I'm looking for something that they could possibly stay in all the time.
 
As I have said before, and as you see from the varied responses, sexy shrimp are sluts. They will associate with anything. In the Atlantic I see them on Condylactis gigantea, Stoichactis (or is it Stichodactyla ?) and sometimes on Bartholomea. In my tank they like colt corals, anthelia, and sometimes hairy mushrooms.
 
I've seen them in the atlantic on curly cue (Batholomea ammaulata) and Florida condylactus, (candylactus gigantia) as well as in deep water on club anemones (Telmatactis americana).
 
I see these shrimp very often and they will be commensal with any number of anemone and corals. Just yesterday I found five with a tube anemone and have on occassion found them with Eupyllia and Elegance corals. The one thing that does stand out to me, and this goes for any of the anemone shrimp and crabs is that there will not be any if the anemone also hosts clownfish or dominoe damsels. That alone might be the only real determining factor as to what anemone the shrimp "prefer". So if I am on the hunt for such shrimp and crabs, I bypass any anemone with clownfish as I know I would be wasting my time to look. At least here in the Philippines.

Chuck
 
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