Bumblebee Shrimp: Perfect for the 40oz Micro Reef
- PNW Custom
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
If you're looking for one of the most unique, eye-catching, and charming invertebrates to add to your saltwater aquarium, the Bumblebee Shrimp (Gnathophyllum americanum) is hard to beat. With bold yellow-and-black stripes, curious behavior, and a personality that outshines its size, this little shrimp has become increasingly popular among desktop reef keepers.
Why Bumblebee Shrimp Struggle in Larger Tanks
In big reef aquariums, Bumblebee Shrimp are often:
Lost in the rockwork
Outcompeted for food
Eaten by larger fish or shrimp
Impossible to spot day-to-day
At a maximum size of only 1 inch, these shrimp are extremely easy to lose track of in tanks with extensive rock structures, multiple hiding spots, and larger tankmates. Many hobbyists add them to their tank thinking they’ll be a fun addition, only to realize the shrimp quietly disappears within a week or even a day or two.
This has led to the belief that Bumblebee Shrimp are “hard to keep,” when most of the time, they’re simply not suited for large environments full of predators and complex hiding spaces.
The Perfect Habitat: A Micro Reef
Micro environments like those in the 40oz Micro Reef offer everything Bumblebee Shrimp need to thrive. Not only are they able to stay safe from predators, they're easy to see daily thanks to the tank's small footprint. It's also easy to target feed them with a variety of foods and observe their natural behavior as they perch, explore, and dance around the rock ledges.
The Micro Tank offers:
Compact, intentional rockscape that encourages natural foraging but prevents them from vanishing forever.
Filtration and polycarbonate lids that help promote stable reef conditions.
Low-flow, shrimp-friendly system powered by an adjustable 50 GPH return.
Ultra-clear viewing panels so you can enjoy every detail of this 1 inch gem.
Easy target feeding thanks to the open layout.
Keeping a Bumblebee Shrimp in this tank transforms them from a “rarely seen novelty” into a daily delight.
A Tiny Shrimp for Tiny Reefs
At the end of the day, Bumblebee Shrimp aren’t challenging, they’re simply mismatched with the environments they’re usually placed in. When you house a 1-inch shrimp in a giant reef tank, it’s no surprise they disappear. But place that same shrimp into a carefully designed micro ecosystem and everything changes. You can finally appreciate their markings, enjoy their active personalities, and give them the focused care they deserve. For reefers who love the smaller, more intricate side of the hobby, Bumblebee Shrimp are one of the most rewarding species you can keep, and the 40oz Micro Reef gives them the perfect stage to shine.