Thor amboinensis, the sexy dancing shrimp, is a species of shrimp becoming more popular in the aquarium trade. T. amboinensis is prized for its vibrant colors and symbiotic relationships with anemones and corals, making it a popular choice for nano aquaria. The demand for T. amboinensis is moderate, with an estimated 20,000-30,000 individuals imported into the US annually. Most of these shrimps are still captured from the wild, raising concerns about sustainability, especially since there is no available population data for the species. Due to their small size and popularity in reef aquaria, T. amboinensis is an ideal candidate for aquaculture. However, no published studies to our knowledge have specifically focused on the aquaculture of this species; existing research has primarily examined larval settlement, morphology, and behavior in the wild. This study aims to refine methods for breeding and raising T. amboinensis in captivity, addressing a critical gap in the literature and promoting sustainable trade practices. Our primary goals are to determine the gestation period from egg to larval stage, and to quantify the larval yield per brood, essential steps in optimizing production methods for aquaculture.
To understand the fecundity and gestation length of T. amboinensis, adult shrimp were placed in 3L Aquatic HabitatsTM zebrafish tanks with 1 female and 1-2 males per tank. The shrimp were fed frozen mysis and observed daily for the presence of eggs. The afternoon before hatching, each tank was moved and drained into a larval rearing cone to collect the larvae as they hatched. Fecundity was recorded by counting the number of larvae produced. Larvae were then reared using standard rearing methods and photographed daily with a digital stereoscope to document their development until settlement. The data collected on fecundity and gestation period, along with detailed images of larval stages, will provide valuable insights into the aquaculture potential of T. amboinensis as a candidate for ornamental shrimp farming.