Red Banded Pistol Shrimp
The Red Banded Pistol Shrimp is a great for cleaning up! They will scavenge detritus and algae while churning the sand which aerates it, keeping the aquarium healthy. Make sure that all rocks are securely rested on the bottom of the tank and not just the sand because the burrowing habits of the shrimp can destabilize the rockwork. When they snap their claws, it makes an audible pop; which is where they get their name. The sound acts as a warning sign against predators in the wild. They will eat just about anything they can find in the sand, but be sure to supplement their diet with some frozen meaty foods. Add a pistol shrimp with a watchman/shrimp goby and they will frequently build a symbiotic relationship and share a burrow. These two will take turns alternately maintaining/protecting the cave and the goby can also act as an early warning sign for the shrimp when it ventures away from the burrow.