Bumble Bee Shrimp – Gnathophyllum americanum

The Blue Banded Coral Shrimp is a stunning and popular marine invertebrate in the aquarium trade. As the name suggests, it has striking blue and white bands on its claws, which contrast beautifully with its bright red body and antennae. This shrimp is a highly efficient scavenger and predator, and will readily consume a wide variety of foods, including live and frozen meaty foods, algae, and detritus. In the wild, it is found on coral reefs and rocky areas, where it feeds on small invertebrates and plankton. In captivity, the Blue Banded Coral Shrimp requires a well-established and stable aquarium with plenty of hiding places, as it can be territorial and aggressive towards other shrimp and smaller fish. It prefers low to moderate water flow and moderate to high lighting. The ideal water parameters for this shrimp are a temperature range of 72-78°F, pH of 8.1-8.4, and a salinity of 1.023-1.025.