Northwest Dive Club

It has been a while since I have been looking for Crimson Anemones and trying to see if there is a shy tiny critter that is almost only found together with Crimson Anemones.

Andy Lamb in his book ""Marine Life of the Pacific North West" Says: ""Nearly always associated with the crimson anemone the candy stripe shrimp is a favourite of the underwater photographer. However, getting the shot requires stealth and patience. Good luck!"

Part of the problem was that I was always looking at the top of Crimson Anemone but actually all 3 shrimps /eualids are found at the bottom, near by or underneath the anemone arm. See the pictures below.

What I found interesting that there are also much smaller Kincaid's Shrimp and Shortscale Eualid (or Threespine Shrimp).

Shortscale Eualid which look a bit similar to candy stripe but do not have blue rings they can be found all over Puget Sound.
Andy Lamb does not mention any link to Crimson Anemone but there is another resource from our Well Recognised & Appreciated Member of NWDC:
Greg Jensen in his book "Crabs and Shrimp of the Pacific Coast". Greg writes:"Under Shortscale Eualid:"Juveniles can sometimes be found clinging to columns of large plumose anemones and also around Crimson Anemones"

It has been a while since I first discussed Candy Stripe Shrimp with another Underwater photographer - Drew Collins.
It was he who first pointed out to me that in order to identify Candy Stripe you have to verify it has blue rings.
I had many photographs as far as Titlow but Drew told me that both Crimson Anemones & Candy stripe Shrimps mostly reside northern Puget Sound and over 100s of dives in Edmonds Underwater Park he found there one only once.

Eric "Yellow Eye" mention about the book "The Salish Sea: Jewel of the Pacific Northwest". Drew Collins was a major contributor to this book.
You can find more about him from his website: http://www.photographyunderwater.net

Andy Lamb in his book ""Marine Life of the Pacific North West" Says: " Kincaid's shrimp: Though very often associated with the crimson anemone and in considerable numbers, Kincaid's shrimp is not always readily noticed. The white mid-rib along the pointed extension between the eyes or nostrum is distinctive"

{Update added 9/23/15}
It looks like there is also another Shrimp that may look like Shortscale Eualid but is bigger. It is Threespine Shrimp.
Greg writes in his book: "Habitat: Common subtidally in Puget Sound in a wide range of habitats.

If you want to see more Critters I found at Anacortes Skyline Marina Wall yesterday, you can go to:
"Moved from Whidbey Island Critters - in footsteps of Jan K"
http://www.nwdiveclub.com/viewtopic.php ... 78#p269278

Here are the pictures of Candy Stripe Shrimp, Kincaid's Shrimp and Shortscale Eualid:

Please click on any picture if you want to enlarge.

Zoomed in:
Original:
Here are the pictures of Crimson Anemones and their Surrounding Environment:

Hi
I haven't heard of Shortcase Eualids. But yes, Kincaid shrimp are almost always nearby. Usually in larger numbers than candy stripes. I believe I read in the Salish Sea book that the Kincaid's eat the Snakelock Anemone, and the Candy Stripes serve to protect them. I think ScubaJess has a cool photo showing them both.

I find the Kincaid shrimp are usually facing downward on a slope, and look a lot like the daisy brittle stars, which are also often found nearby.

Candy stripe shrimp can be found beneath and on top of the snake lock anemones. They're very easy to miss because they're often more transparent or smaller than expected. Or on the back side of where your light is pointing

YellowEye wrote:Hi
I haven't heard of Shortcase Eualids. But yes, Kincaid shrimp are almost always nearby.

Thank you Eric Yellow Eye !

You caught my typo. It should have been Shortscale Eualid not Shortcase Eualid.
My apology to the critter to for misspelling its name too

OK Here are my pictures zoomed in and distribution by site:
Until I had discussion with Drew Collins about 1 year ago these were my candy stripe candidates, they have red and white candy stripes but obviously the blue rings are missing.

Please note that I also made update today that these Shortscale Eualid candidates may actually end up being Threespine Shrimps.

Well, we live and learn all the time. I am sure Greg Jensen will comment on it and correct if it is not accurate.

Picture from Skyline wall:
Pictures from Titlow Tacoma:
Here are multiple Shortscale Eualids or Threespine Shrimps and Coonstripe Shrimp to the right. This is captured also at Titlow.
Picture from Alki Cove 2:
Picture from Redondo:
Picture from Rosario Head:

The third species in your photographs is the threespine shrimp, Heptacarpus tridens.

Fantastic shrimp shots!! They always make me happy! glad you got so many varieties on film!

Here's my shot of a Candy Stripe Shrimp guarding its snake lock anemone from a group of Kincaids.
It's always interesting to watch shrimp to see what they will do next!

That is a GORGEOUS shot, Scubajess! So colorful!

Yes They make me smile too!! The crimson anemone and candy-stripe shrimp just complement each other so well

Perhaps you know this, Echo, but I believe the white bulge on the candy stripe in your photo is a parasitic copepod tucked under the shrimp's shell. They're not uncommon at all but they often go unnoticed/unidentified in photos.

A retired marine biologist friend, aged 90 at the time, endured considerable discomfort on a research boat in the Sea of Cortez. When asked why he would put up with all of that, he answered, "I wanted to learn a lot of things I forgot!" I am at an age that I can relate to this. Thank you to Greg, Grant, Marek, et al Following these threads is a delight.
-Curt

The parasite is a bopyrid isopod

I stand corrected! And gladly so. Mr Jensen can correct me any time. Thanks for the clarification.

Happy Saturday everyone!
Here are a few more candy shrimp shots.