Coral Banded Shrimp - Blue Leg

Shrimp are active, entertaining and easy to keep. They shed their shells as they grow, and afterwards need to hide in the rock until their new shell hardens. Shrimp are highly excitable when food is present, and will do anything to get it. Some species may pester corals by attempting to reach food the coral has eaten. In this situation the shrimp should be provided food first. Large individuals may catch and consume smaller species.

This colorful and diminutive shrimp is uncommon and highly sought after. Its claws and tail are striking scarlet and white, its legs are blue, and its abdomen is yellow. It stays small, only growing to 1.5 inches. Its long white whiskers communicate to fishes that it may clean them of parasites and old skin. It may not however cure an aquarium of ICH or other parasites; its main benefit is to lower the fishes stress. The Purple Coral Banded shrimp spends most of its time within the rockwork and emerges at night or feeding time. It is aggressive towards its own species but occasionally forms pairs. It is an opportunistic feeder and may attack other crustaceans and small snails and worms. It is easy to feed on fish food.