Petshrimp.com Discussion Forum

This shrimp was wild caught in the Ashley river just outside Charleston, SC. I've caught ghost shrimp (Palaemonetes) in the same spot, and also in nearby waters, but this is the only specimen I've found of this larger species. It's about three times as long as an adult ghost shrimp, and probably ten times the weight at least. Its claws are disproportionately large compared to the smaller species (~1cm) and hairless with a slight brown coloring. The collection location is near enough to the coast that the river has an observable tide, but there is no measurable salinity and all other species are fully freshwater. This shrimp has done well in a freshwater aquarium for several weeks, including moulting once. The only problem is I have no idea what it is. Any ideas?

From the shape of the rostrum and the stripes on the cephalothorax, I would say a young M. acanthurus.

Thanks a lot.