
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Thor amboinensis
A tiny shrimp just over 1 cm long, brown with symmetrical blue-edged white patches. It holds its tail up over its back and sways its abdomen as it walks.
The sexy or squat anemone shrimp (Thor amboinensis) is a small shrimp found across the Indo-West Pacific and in tropical and subtropical Atlantic waters including the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Madeira and the Canary Islands (SeaLifeBase, Wikipedia). It grows to about 13 mm (Wikipedia). It is olive brown with symmetrical white patches edged in thin blue lines, and holds its abdomen curled up with the tail fan over its head, swaying it from side to side as it walks - the movement behind its trade name. On shallow reefs it lives among the tentacles of sea anemones and mushroom corals, feeding on host tissue and on plankton caught in the mucus. In the aquarium it will settle in any anemone present, or otherwise on corals and rock (Wikipedia, LiveAquaria). It is peaceful towards its own kind and can be kept in small groups, and takes frozen and prepared foods. Being tiny, it cannot be kept with shrimp-eating fish. It is sensitive to nitrate and copper, so add it to a stable tank after slow acclimation. It is a staple symbiotic shrimp in Japan.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The Sexy shrimp grows to About 1.3 cm (Wikipedia).
The ideal temperature for the Sexy shrimp is 22〜26℃.
Origin
Indo-West Pacific and tropical-subtropical Atlantic
Lifespan
Little data available
Size
About 1.3 cm (Wikipedia)
Sources: SeaLifeBase (Thor amboinensis) / LiveAquaria
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Accepted name: Thor amboinensis (De Man, 1888)
Synonyms: Hippolyte amboinensis De Man, 1888, Thor discosomatis Kemp, 1916
Authority databases: WoRMS · GBIF · GBIF · WoRMS · SeaLifeBase
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Not listed in the CITES Appendices (checked on Species+). Not designated as an Invasive Alien Species under Japanese law. It also occurs along the coasts of Japan (southern Japan, the Ryukyu Islands, etc.); collecting in Japan is subject to each prefecture's fisheries adjustment regulations. Never release aquarium animals into the sea.
Sources: Species+ (CITES) / Ministry of the Environment: List of Designated Invasive Alien Species / SeaLifeBase
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
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Temperature
22〜26℃
Omnivore (plankton, host mucus and tissue)
22-26°C, specific gravity 1.023-1.025 (LiveAquaria). Sensitive to nitrate and copper, so keep water quality stable.
It settles among anemone tentacles if available, otherwise on corals and rock. Can be kept in small groups.
Peaceful towards its own kind and tankmates. Too small to keep with shrimp-eating fish.
It lives on anemones and corals, and LiveAquaria rates it as reef-compatible.
Offer fine foods such as frozen plankton, pellets and flakes. It also scavenges leftovers.
Maintain iodine and other elements for moulting (LiveAquaria). Acclimate slowly to avoid sudden salinity or pH changes.
Beginner. This is a beginner-friendly species. No special equipment or experience is required, and it can be kept successfully with basic care setup.
The ideal temperature for Sexy shrimp is 22〜26℃. Avoid sudden temperature changes and maintain a stable environment.
Sexy shrimp typically reaches About 1.3 cm (Wikipedia) as an adult. Size may vary depending on care conditions and individual genetics.
Sexy shrimp feeds on: Omnivore (plankton, host mucus and tissue). Aim for a balanced diet with appropriate feeding frequency.
The price of Sexy shrimp varies significantly depending on morph, size, and lineage. Check our market price page for the latest pricing information.
Last updated: September 23, 2026