Ciliated False Squilla
Pseudosquilla ciliata
A predatory mantis shrimp relative that brings serious attitude to the right setup.
About
The Ciliated False Squilla (Pseudosquilla ciliata) is a stomatopod crustacean with a wide natural range spanning the Indo-West Pacific and the Western Atlantic, including extensive coastal regions of Brazil. Like other members of its group, it is built for hunting. A compact, highly mobile predator with the characteristic flattened body and raptorial appendages that define the stomatopods. These appendages allow it to strike or spear prey with remarkable speed, so tankmates are generally not a wise idea. This is a species best housed alone or very thoughtfully, and it earns an intermediate care rating largely because of its predatory nature and the specialized environment it requires rather than any particular sensitivity to water quality. In the wild it inhabits shallow coastal and reef-associated habitats, typically burrowing into sandy or rubble substrate where it can lie in wait for prey. Getting feeding right is one of the bigger challenges. Meaty foods suited to an ambush hunter are the order of the day. For the keeper who appreciates invertebrates on their own terms rather than as part of a community display, this is a genuinely engaging animal with real personality and fascinating hunting behavior to observe.
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with Ciliated False Squilla
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Ciliated False Squilla aggressive?
- The Ciliated False Squilla is aggressive and is best kept alone or with robust tankmates that can hold their own.
- What does the Ciliated False Squilla eat?
- The Ciliated False Squilla is a carnivore. It needs a meaty, protein-rich diet of frozen or live foods.