Holthuis Anemone Shrimp care guide
Holthuis Anemone Shrimp (Periclimenes holthuisi) — minimum tank 40 L, temperature 24-26 °C, pH 8.1-8.4.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Holthuis Anemone Shrimp (Periclimenes holthuisi) is a marine partner shrimp of the family Palaemonidae, listed in the Aquairi knowledge base as an intermediate-level species. Glass-like anemone-associated cleaner shrimp with white and purple-blue markings. Acts as a cleaner of larger fish.
Taxonomy
- Family: Palaemonidae
- Genus: Periclimenes
- Scientific name: Periclimenes holthuisi
- Common synonyms: Holthuis Cleaner
Habitat
Palaemonid partner shrimp are small, often translucent reef shrimp that live in association with anemones, corals and other invertebrates. Several species clean parasites from fish or shelter among the tentacles of host anemones for protection. In the Aquairi knowledge base this species is recorded from Indo-Pacific.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L (10.6 US gal)
- Adult size: 1-3 cm
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- KH: 8-12 °dKH
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.024-1.026
- Lifespan: 1-2 years
Diet
The species is an omnivore, taking a wide range of foods including meaty frozen foods, sinking pellets and detritus gathered from the rockwork.
Compatibility
The Aquairi knowledge base lists this species as peaceful. Suitable tank mates include Anemones, Reef fish. It should be kept away from Hawkfish, Predatory fish. It associates with host anemones or corals for shelter and is generally reef-safe.
Breeding
Breeding requires an extended planktonic larval stage in open water before the young settle, which makes captive reproduction very difficult and rarely accomplished in home aquaria. Most specimens in the hobby are wild-collected.
Holthuis Anemone Shrimp (Periclimenes holthuisi) Breeding Guide
Overview
Periclimenes holthuisi (also placed in Ancylomenes) is a cleaner shrimp of the family Palaemonidae, first described in 1969 by A. J. Bruce. It is found throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific and associates with sea anemones, scleractinian corals or jellyfish, maintaining a symbiotic cleaning relationship with its hosts.
Conditioning
Because the shrimp lives in association with a host, a stable host such as a compatible anemone or coral is central to keeping the animal in condition. Detailed dietary conditioning specific to reproduction is not documented in whitelisted sources.
Spawning & Berried Females
As a palaemonid, the female carries fertilised eggs beneath the abdomen until they hatch, following the general pattern for the family. Host-associated cleaner shrimp typically reproduce while settled on the host.
Larval Care
Hatched larvae are planktonic before settlement. No whitelisted source documents a method for rearing this species through its planktonic larval phase in aquaria.