Camel Shrimp - Rhynchocinetes durbanensis

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The Camel Shrimp (Rhynchocinetes durbanensis) has red and white lined markings with large, green eyes and a humped back. They are generally nocturnal and tend to hide during light hours.

Camel Shrimp are scavengers and will gladly eat up any leftover frozen, flake or pellet food that the other inhabitants in the aquarium do not eat. Camel shrimp are not reef safe and will consume polyps and soft corals. This species may live alone but prefer to be in groups of three or more.

Shrimp molt their hard outer skeleton to grow and it is not unusual to find an empty molt in an aquarium with shrimp. Shrimp also can molt under environmental stress such as water changes, rapid changes in conditions or during shipping. Always acclimate shrimp slowly to avoid sudden changes in their environment.

Crustaceans benefit from iodine and mineral supplements to help form a healthy, hard exoskeleton. Regular water changes with high quality salt mixes usually provide enough, but extra supplements may be needed in reef tanks or in tanks with heavy invertebrates loads that use up iodine and other minerals rapidly. If water changes with new, fresh saltwater are not done regularly, the minerals also get depleted and nitrates accumulate and can also be detrimental to crustaceans and other invertebrates.