The Cleaner Shrimp, a.k.a. Skunk Cleaner or Scarlet Cleaner, is definitely the most popular shrimp available in the aquarium hobby -- and for good reason. These shrimp have incredible coloring and lots of personality. Their bodies are clear to yellow in color with a deep red stripe down the back, split by a white skunk stripe. They also have long white antennae, which they love to clean daily.In nature, these shrimp set up large cleaning stations on the reef where fish will come to have parasites picked from their skin. The Cleaner Shrimp gladly provides this valuable service to even the fiercist predators. Cleaner Shrimp are often found lingering around an Eel's hole where it will clean the face of the eel as it sticks its head out.In the home aquarium, these shrimp not only are a blast to watch, but will also provide cleaning services for their fellow aquarium inhabitants. This can be very helpful in preventing diseases like Ick. The Cleaner Shrimp will also clean your hand when you place it into the aquarium. They are always hungry and love to be fed. They are very peaceful and more than one can be kept in a tank.Shrimp belong to the Class Crustacea and Order Decapoda, which is characterized by two pair of antennae, three body parts, and five pairs of legs. The head of Shrimp is connected to the thorax and covered by a shell called carapace. The antennae of Shrimp are normally long and thin and serve the Shrimp as extended eyes. Shrimp have highly developed abdomens which allows for quick movement. In order for Shrimp to grow they need to shed their exoskeleton, a process called molting, which allows them to remove their restricting shell and begin a new one. Often times in the home aquarium Shrimp will leave this translucent shell in full view so it can serve as a distraction while the Shrimp finds a hiding place and allows its new shell to harden.Photo by Saltwaterfish.com member, Lauren DeMartini.
