Holthuis's anemone shrimp (Ancylomenes holthuisi) care guide

Group
Shrimp
Other names
Holthuis cleaner shrimp, Periclimenes holthuisi, Holthuis anemone shrimp
Family
Palaemonidae
Origin
Tropical Indo-West Pacific reefs, about 6–30 m deep
Water
saltwater
Temperature
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
SG 1.023–1.026
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
yes

Care

Holthuis's anemone shrimp is a tiny, almost transparent cleaner shrimp from Indo-Pacific reefs. Its body carries small brown or purple spots and a distinct V-shaped white and yellow patch on the third segment of the abdomen. It was described in 1969 as Periclimenes holthuisi and is now in Ancylomenes. Hosts: in the wild it lives mainly with sea anemones but is also found on hard corals and even jellyfish. In aquariums it does best with a host anemone, such as a bubble-tip or carpet anemone, or a long-polyped coral, where it shelters among the tentacles. Without a host it is exposed and is often eaten. Names: it is sold alongside other small anemone shrimps such as Periclimenes and Ancylomenes species, which look similar; check photos of the abdominal markings. Set-up and water: a peaceful reef or nano reef. The water figures are typical reef-tank guidance rather than from a source: about 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, stable salinity. Drip-acclimatise slowly. Keep a pair or small group on one host. Behaviour: it is a cleaner shrimp and will pick at fish that visit it, but it is too small to do much clean-up in the tank. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most other invertebrates. Never dose them in a tank holding this animal, and read the label of any treatment, fertiliser or algae remover before use. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancylomenesholthuisi); SeaLifeBase (sealifebase.se/summary/Ancylomenes-holthuisi.html). Checked October 2026.

Diet

A cleaner and scavenger. It picks parasites and scraps from fish and from its host, and takes small foods such as finely chopped mysis, brine shrimp, copepods and small pellets. Target-feed near the host so fish do not take everything.

Breeding

Sexes are separate. Females carry eggs under the abdomen; the larvae are planktonic and very hard to rear. Pairs may spawn in aquariums, but home rearing is rarely reported.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful and reef safe. Keep with small, peaceful fish; most wrasses, hawkfish, dottybacks, large shrimp and crabs will eat it. Clownfish may chase it out of a shared anemone.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

About Aquatic-Auctions

  • Aquatic-Auctions (aquatic-auctions.com) is a UK online marketplace for aquarium and pond livestock and equipment: tropical and marine fish, corals, shrimp, snails and other invertebrates, aquatic plants, tanks, filtration, lighting and food.
  • Items are sold by auction, buy it now or classified advert, by hobbyist and business sellers in the UK.
  • Buyers pay sellers directly; Aquatic-Auctions does not hold the money. Hobbyist sellers must offer PayPal and may also take cash on collection. Business sellers take PayPal (required) or cash on collection, and bank transfer only once they have a seller rating of 50 out of 100, a company and pet-selling licence checked by Aquatic-Auctions, a bank account in the company's name, and bank details approved by Aquatic-Auctions.
  • Buyers are told to pay by PayPal Goods & Services, never PayPal Friends and Family, gift cards or crypto.
  • Live fish and other vertebrates must be sent by specialist live-animal couriers (for example APC Overnight or DX Express), never by Royal Mail. Some invertebrates and plants may go by Royal Mail Special Delivery or 1st Class within its rules.
  • Banned and invasive species (for example those on the GB invasive species lists) cannot be listed, and sellers must meet the site’s animal welfare standards.
  • Members must be 16 or over to buy (16 and 17-year-olds with a parent or guardian’s agreement); sellers must be 18 or over.
  • Business sellers show their address, company details and pet-selling licence to buyers. Seller ratings run from 0 to 100: +1 for each positive feedback, −1 for each negative.
  • The site includes a free community species wiki with care guides (water parameters, tank size, diet, temperament, breeding).
  • Aquatic-Auctions is run by Etavonni Tech Limited trading as Aquatic-Auctions (company number 10204188), Aldershot, Hampshire, UK. Contact: info@aquatic-auctions.com.