Harlequin Shrimp (Hymenocera picta)
Invertebrate in the family Hymenoceridae. Hard care. Not Reef Safe.
Quick facts
Diet and feeding
Specialized predators feeding exclusively on starfish and brittle stars. They hunt and consume echinoderms as their primary food source. Difficult to feed on alternative foods in captivity.
Origin and habitat
Indo-Pacific region from the Red Sea through Indonesia and the Philippines to Australia and Hawaii.
Keeper notes
• Minimum 20 gallon tank with plenty of rockwork and crevices for shelter • Maintain temperature 72–78°F, pH 8.1–8.3, and salinity 1.023–1.025 • Highly specialized feeders: require starfish as primary food; will starve on standard aquarium fare • Keep singly or in bonded pairs only; extremely aggressive toward conspecifics • Poor water movement; prefers low to moderate current in sheltered areas
Log Harlequin Shrimp in your reef tank
Reef Trak gives you the full record on every species in your tank: acquisition date, source, photos, parameters at time of stocking, and links to maintenance and feeding events. Track Harlequin Shrimp alongside everything else in your reef.
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