Splendid Cleaner Shrimp

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Western Indian Ocean, Madagascar coasts.

Taxonomy: Belongs to the family Hippolytidae, class Malacostraca. Possesses a robust protective exoskeleton, modified claws, or legs specialized for benthic habits.

Social Behavior: Peaceful species with benthic or fossorial habits. Spends most of its time foraging among rocks or inside burrows.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Displays a characteristic coloration suited for camouflage in its habitat. There is no visible external sexual dimorphism to the naked eye.

Tank Setup: Suitable for aquariums of 50 liters or larger. Requires a fine sand substrate or stable rocks to allow climbing and digging.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous scavenger. Feeds on organic detritus, algae, and leftover food on the substrate.

Water Quality: Demands stable chemical parameters: temperature 22.0-28.0 °C, pH 8.1-8.4, and zero tolerance to copper or heavy metals.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Reef safe. Highly compatible with peaceful fish and invertebrates. Ideal for clean-up crews.

Aquarium Breeding: Produces microscopic pelagic larvae that do not survive standard home aquarium filtration systems.

Risks and Diseases: Highly sensitive to rapid parameter shifts. Copper treatments are lethal. Lack of trace elements like iodine causes failed molting.