Coral Banded Shrimp

This shrimp is a general scavenger, working through leftover food, detritus and dead organic matter on the substrate and in rock crevices. It's also well known among reefers as a natural predator of bristleworms, making it a handy addition if worm numbers are creeping up. In the wild it's classed as a cleaner shrimp, though this behaviour isn't often seen in home aquariums.

As with any invertebrate, slow drip acclimation is strongly recommended to let it adjust gradually to your tank's salinity and parameters. Once settled, it's a hardy species, but it does rely on stable water quality and adequate iodine levels to support successful moulting.

Generally considered reef-safe, though it's a good idea to keep it well fed so it doesn't go looking for an easy meal on nearby corals or anemones.

• Best kept as a single specimen — they're aggressive toward their own kind and other shrimp
• Avoid housing with large predatory fish such as triggers, eels or groupers that could make a meal of it

• Provide plenty of caves and rocky hiding spots, as this shrimp is most active after dark
• Feed regularly with a variety of meaty foods to discourage it from bothering tankmates
• Use a feeding stick to get food to it directly if faster fish are outcompeting it
• Don't be alarmed if it disappears for a day or two — this usually means it's moulting