TankBud

Harlequin shrimp

Hymenocera picta

Also known as Clown Shrimp, Painted Shrimp, Painted Dancing Shrimp

SaltwaterShrimp

Harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera picta)
Nathalie Rodrigues · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–81°F
24–27°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Reef safe
Reef safe with caution
Family
Gnathophyllidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific reefs (Hawaii to the Red Sea)

Overview

Reef safe with corals and fish, since it has no interest in either. The catch is echinoderms: this shrimp eats live starfish almost exclusively, including small Asterina pest stars, chocolate chip stars, and linckia stars, so keeping one means committing to a steady supply of feeder starfish for its lifetime. Best bought as an already bonded pair. A single shrimp does fine on its own but won't breed. Not a cleanup crew animal, and not compatible with a tank that has a prized starfish in it.

In the wild

Found on coral rubble and reef flats throughout the Indo-Pacific, from Hawaii and French Polynesia through the Red Sea, usually at depths of about 1–30 m. Pairs stay close to a den in the reef structure near a steady supply of starfish, their only food source. The aquarium setup needs to match that: rockwork with caves, plus a keeper willing to source live starfish long term.

Good to know

One of only two species in the genus Hymenocera, easily recognized by its flattened, paddle shaped claws and mottled purple and cream body. Harlequin shrimp feed almost exclusively on sea stars. A bonded pair works together to flip a star onto its back and feeds on the tube feet first, which keeps the star alive and the meal fresh for days while they work through it. Males run noticeably smaller than females.

Did you know

A well fed pair can work through two or three medium starfish a week, and many keepers end up culturing Asterina stars in a separate tank just to keep the pantry stocked.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Harlequin shrimp is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Harlequin shrimp need?

A Harlequin shrimp needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Harlequin shrimp need?

A Harlequin shrimp is comfortable at 75–81°F (24–27°C) with a pH of 8.1–8.4.

How big does a Harlequin shrimp get?

An adult Harlequin shrimp reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

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