About Squat Anemone Shrimp
Sexy shrimp — tiny, photogenic, and constantly wiggling its abdomen as if dancing. Lives in groups around anemones or large corals. Peaceful, reef-safe, and beginner-friendly. Best kept in groups of 3+.
Thor amboinensis, commonly known as the squat anenome shrimp or sexy shrimp, is a species of shrimp found across the Indo-West Pacific and in parts of the Atlantic Ocean. It lives symbiotically on corals, sea anemones and other marine invertebrates in shallow reef communities.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Tiny shrimp with dramatic white spots on a brown-to-green body. Constantly wiggles its abdomen in a "dance" — hence "sexy shrimp."
In your tank. Lives in groups around anemones or large corals. Peaceful, reef-safe, and beginner-friendly. Visually striking despite its small size.
Care notes. Best in groups of 3+ — single specimens often disappear into the rockwork and rarely emerge. Acclimate slowly via drip.
Sourcing and feeding. Wild-collected from Indo-Pacific reefs; widely available ($8–20 each). Omnivore — frozen mysis, leftover meaty bits.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related invertebrates
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 107534).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: no rights reserved · CC0 (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).