Fire Shrimp

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.

The spectacular Fire shrimp is deep scarlet red with stark white accents. It is also known as the Scarlet Cleaner or Blood shrimp. 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 Fire shrimp spends most of its time within the rockwork and emerges at night or feeding time. It is social and may form pairs; all specimens are hermaphrodites. It grows up to 2 inches and is easy to feed on fish food.