Creature Feature: Banded Cleaner Shrimp or Banded Coral Shrimp

Banded cleaner shrimp or banded coral shrimp. Photo Credit: Greg McFall

The colorful banded cleaner/coral shrimp (Stenopus hispidus, ʻŌpae kai in Hawaiian) is found around the world in all warm seas and is typically found hiding inside coral heads or underneath ledges. Banded coral shrimps are almost always found in pairs or in small groups and are more active at night. These shrimps clean fishes and eels from parasites and damaged tissues and are therefore also commonly known as banded cleaner shrimps.

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