More info
| Name (Common, Scientific ) | Harlequin shrimp, Spotted shrimp, Hymenocera picta, Hymenocera elegans |
| Minimum tank size | 40L |
| Minimum group size | two |
| Temperature | 24-26ºC |
| Salinity | 1,020-1,025 |
| pH | 8.0-8.4 |
| Difficulty level | Intermediary |
Where do we start?! There are plenty of weird looking marine shrimp out there, but this one absolutely takes the cake. There are two varieties of harlequin shrimp, distinguished as different species: Hymenocera picta and Hymenocera elegans.
Both varieties feature a body shape that almost resembles a praying mantis. They have large, flat claws . Unlike other shrimp, which tend to have very long and thin antennae, theirs are flat and leaf-shaped.
Hymenocera picta, which is naturally found in the Pacific Ocean, has a white body with purplish spots. Its cousin Hymenocera elegans from the Indian Ocean has more reddish body spots. Both grow to a maximum size of about 5cm.
This species is naturally found almost always in pairs, so we recommend that you do the same in the aquarium. Keep in mind that harlequin shrimp are territorial, so if you want to keep more than one pair in the same tank, you'll have to provide plenty of space.
As for tank mates, like other shrimp species, harlequins are aggressive towards other shrimp. In turn, they are vulnerable to attack by larger fish species and can be taken out when paired with overly noisy tankmates.
DIET OF HARLEEK SHRIMP (HYMENOCERA PICTA)
With a highly specific diet, this is probably the most fascinating thing about this shrimp species. Harlequin shrimp only eat starfish and nothing else. Maybe they also eat a strange sea urchin, but that's about it. That's what makes them a little harder to keep than many other shrimp: you'll have to provide a steady stream of starfish.
A few points about this strange starfish diet:
- Harlequin shrimp only eat starfish legs. This means you can keep a lot of starfish in the refuge and cut off one of their legs for shrimp feeding time; the leg will grow quickly.
- The Asterina starfish, a small species that is generally considered a pest, is a choice of choice for many aquarists.
- Harlequin shrimp hunting behavior is fascinating. Larger starfish can be kept alive for days or weeks while the shrimp feed on the legs.
