Profile of the Harlequin Shrimp

Other Common Names:

Clown Shrimp, Painted Shrimp, and Dancing Shrimp.

Scientific Name:

Hymenocera picta or Hymenocera elegans.

Identification:

The body is of a pinksih-white or white color, splashed with large purple-edged pink spots, and sometimes reddish or light orangish toned looking spots. The claws are tapered and striped with purple bands as well. The eyes are on stalks, and the antennae are of a leaf shape because they are flattened.

Maximum Size:

To 2". This shrimp remains very small, only reaching an average length of one for specimens in the Indian Ocean region, and up to almost two inches from Pacific regions.

Characteristics:

This is a very shy, mild tempered shrimp, as well as delicate and sensitive. It prefers hard rocky or coral substrates, rich with lots of hiding places. During daylight hours it keeps hidden and only goes out to feed at twilight hours, or complete darkness. It is almost always found in pairs with the female being the larger of the two.

To help with proper molting of this shrimp, supplemental iodine should be added to the system. Like with all invertebrates, this shrimp is sensitive to copper sulfate and high nitrate levels.

Diet:

The Harlequin Shrimp's diet consists solely of the tube feet of Echinoderms in the Starfish Family. In Hawaiian waters we know that when you find a Harlequin Shrimp, the small Linkia species of Comet or Blood Spotted Starfish will usually be close by. This is its primary food source, but in some rare cases the Harlequin may accept other aquarium foods. Unless you have a good supply of starfishes for this shrimp to live on, and they are not particular of what kind, it does not do well in captivity. Don't keep any prized starfishes in the same tank with it.