Cleaner Shrimp are found in the tropical waters of the Red Sea, Indian and Pacific Ocean where they live in coral reefs and rocky coves. These shrimps play and important part in the diverse eco-system of the reef where they help to preserve and protect the corals and reef fish.
These shrimps can be easily spotted by their bright colours. Their body is a stunning red with a distinct white stripe that runs down their back, an amber underside and ten pairs of legs. They have four long white antennae however the front pair is split which makes it look as if they have six.
Cleaner shrimp will often pair together but not create big groups. As well as tending to corals by removing bacteria and dirt they will also help to clean the fish who live within the reef. The cleaner shrimps will do a dance where they sway from side to side to let fish know that they are ready to perform a cleaning service to them. These shrimp gain nutrients from this process as well as helping the animals stay healthy. They have even been observed collaborating with other cleaning animals such as cleaning wrasse.
Type
Crustacean: vital reef shrimp
What do they eat?
Parasites and dead skin
Size
Max 6cm
Water Type
Salt Water
Where are we?
Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Red Sea