Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
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Family Gonodactylidae

Gonodactylus chiragra

(Fabricius, 1781)

Chiragra Mantis Shrimp

Not Reef Tank Suitable

Not Suitable for Fish-Only Tank

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean: Maldives to Japan.

Size: 4 inches (10 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits coastal areas and burrows under intertidal and subtidal rocks.

Aquarium Suitability: Rarely seen in the trade and sometimes sold as a species for a small system specifically designed for one such creature.

If maintained by itself in a small 20 to 30 gallon aquarium with sufficient bottom sand and live rock for hiding places, it makes for an extremely interesting display. Provide enough loose rubble and/or caves. If not happy with its surroundings, it will rearrange the contents of the 'entire' aquarium to suit itself.

Requires daily feedings with pieces of meaty foodstuffs.

Taxonomy:

    Kingdom: Animalia

    Phylum: Arthropoda

    Class: Malacostraca

    Order: Stomatopoda

    Family: Gonodactylidae

    Genus: Gonodactylus

FYI: Keep your fingers away from this creature!

 Gonodactylus chiragra (Chiragra Mantis Shrimp)
Photo © Andrea & Antonella Ferrari
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Premium Aquatics