Banded Coral Shrimp

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 3"
• Diet: Carnivore   • Aquarium Level: Substrate & Rocks   • Minimum Tank Size: 12 gallons
 • Reef Compatible: Yes   • Water Conditions: 72-78° F, dKH 8-12, pH 8.1-8.4, sg 1.023-1.025
• Supplements: None   • Coloration: Red, White
• Origin: Indo-Pacific, South Pacific • Family: Stenopodidae   • Species: Shrimp

Help Support AquariumDomain!      

• Your support keeps AquariumDomain advertisement free, lightning fast and fully optimized for both mobile and desktop browsing.

• Visit our Patreon page to learn about the exclusive benefits our Patrons receive!

The Banded Coral Shrimp is also commonly known as the Banded Cleaner Shrimp, Banded Boxing Shrimp, or Coral Banded Shrimp. S. hispidus has a red and white banded body with fairly long pinchers and an extra long white antennae. The male Banded Coral Shrimp is usually noticeable smaller than the female of the species. Members of the Stenopodidae are called "Boxing Shrimp" because of the large pinchers on their third set of legs, which they often hold these pinchers erect, giving the appearance of a boxer ready to fight.

Possibly second only to the Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp, the Banded Coral Shrimp is a very popular species within the home aquarium trade. Very active and interesting to watch with bright colors and a unique body, the Banded Coral Shrimp makes an excellent addition to most marine aquariums.

The Banded Coral Shrimp needs adequate room in which to move about the aquarium without its long antennae touching neighboring corals or anemones. It is also recommended to provide a good amount of live rock for the Banded Coral Shrimp to graze for foodstuffs and provide it with caves and crevices when threatened. The Banded Coral Shrimp must be kept singly, or as a true-mated pair, as it is intolerant of others of the same species.

Yellow Banded Coral Shrimp are known to harass other smaller shrimp of different species; such as, peppermint or camel shrimps. It is very hardy species, but must be acclimated slowly to avoid any salinity and/or pH shock and is intolerant of high nitrates or copper levels. It is important to maintain proper iodine levels in the water to allow for proper molting. Banded Coral Shrimp are beneficial additions to either reef or peaceful community aquariums.

In the wild, the Banded Coral Shrimp feeds on parasites, dead tissue removed from fish, and other tiny organisms. In the aquarium environment, it will accept most meaty flake and frozen foods, plankton, and other meaty items. Banded Coral Shrimp are also effective bristle worm hunters in the reef aquarium, helping to keep the population of these pests under control.