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
Origin: Indo-Pacific reefs (Hawaii to the Red Sea)
Family: Gnathophyllidae

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.