Cleaner Shrimp

ID points

• A white stripe down the middle of the back, bright red on either side
• Long pure white antennae, waved constantly to draw fish in
• Waits at a fixed cleaning station for larger fish to come to it

Basics

Family

Lysmatidae

Length

4–6 cm

Depth

1-40 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic

Distribution

Tropical coral reefs worldwide

Diet

Parasites and dead skin from larger fish

Easily confused with

Peppermint ShrimpFine red stripes on a translucent body, like a peppermint sweetBanded Coral ShrimpAlternating red and white bands cover the claws and the bodyArrow CrabCarapace a sharp triangle, with a long spiny snout

Fun fact

The Cleaner Shrimp is famous for its vivid red and white stripes, striking against the reef. It sets up a cleaning station at a fixed spot and greets fish with a distinctive rocking dance, inviting the big ones to open wide so it can climb in and pick out parasites and scraps of food.