This shrimp is hermaphroditic: it is born male and then becomes female.
As its name suggests, the Pacific cleaner shrimp is a scavenger and parasite remover. It feeds by removing parasites, dead skin and food waste from fish and invertebrates.
Crabs, shrimps and shellfish
Identity card
The Pacific cleaner shrimp is mainly found in tropical seas, in the Indo-Pacific region.
It lives in coral reefs, rocky areas and deep-water caves.
It measures from 6 cm for males to 7 cm for females.
Detritivorous
This shrimp is hermaphroditic: it is born male and then becomes female.
As its name suggests, the Pacific cleaner shrimp is a scavenger and parasite remover. It feeds by removing parasites, dead skin and food waste from fish and invertebrates.
It lives in coral reefs, rocky areas and deep-water caves.
In tropical seas, this small shrimp can be found in the mouths of large fish such as moray eels. If you go diving in such locations, they may also find their way into your mouth.
The body of the Pacific cleaner shrimp is red with a white central stripe terminating on the caudal fin. It measures from 6 cm for males to 7 cm for females.
As its name suggests, this shrimp is a very effective cleaning station. It cleans fish and some invertebrates thus helping them to stay healthy. Therefore, this behaviour is beneficial to both the fish and the shrimp.
300 - That is how many fish this shrimp can clean each day.
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