Candy shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)---Banded coral shrimp (Stenopus hispidus)

Painted crayfish (Panulirys Versicolor)---Harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera picta)- Anemone crabs (Neopetrolisthes sp)

*. Temp—Tropical 20 to 28—Southern 16 to 24

*. Conditions---Most require a reef environment to ensure its food needs. Anemone crabs, candy shrimp and crayfish are not so reef dependent in an aquarium. All these can exist in medium conditions.

*. Negatives---No negatives with anemone crabs. Banded shrimp should not be paired up if you want peaceful tank and they may harm other tank inhabitants as they get bigger, Candy shrimp can be very aggressive cleaners and bother the fishes anus area. Crayfish as they grow, may push over the live rock and other inverts, scratch fish and kill anything as they rest at night. All crustaceans are susceptible to attack once they shed their shell for 2 to 10 hours after and release hormones either signalling mating or other predators following the scent back to them and eat them.

*. Positives---Anemone crabs eat some planktonic parasites. Cleaner shrimp, good workers, mainly harmless, always out if no predators. Banded shrimp, colourful no other positives. Crayfish, as they get big there are no positives. Harlequin shrimp, except for killing starfish they an excellent tank inhabitant.

*. Food---Filter feeding for anemone crabs. Shrimp and crayfish will eat and scavenge most foods, though the crayfish and banded shrimp need a little algae in their diet.

*. Comments—Crayfish, if there are no triggers, wrasse or large angels, do well, but can be trouble. All shrimp are at risk, especially the candy shrimp, as they have no defences at all when they shed and can be eaten or placed in an anemone by the occupying clown fish. Harlequin shrimp have few predators as they have a ensign based toxic siring incorporated into their nippers. Anemone crabs that filter feed are always harmless and do well if no mantis shrimps and they get on with the clowns.