Harlequin Shrimp

About

The harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera picta) is one of the most visually arresting invertebrates in the marine hobby, dressed in a white or cream base covered with vivid spots of blue, purple, and reddish-orange depending on where the individual originates. Indo-Pacific specimens and Hawaiian ones show slightly different coloration, but both are unmistakable in a reef tank. These are small shrimp, typically kept as mated pairs. They naturally bond and hunt together, which makes them one of the more charming critters you can keep in a dedicated display. The catch, and it is a significant one, is diet. Harlequin shrimp feed exclusively on echinoderms, primarily sea stars, and they will not accept anything else. In practice this means sourcing a steady supply of small sea stars like Asterina species, which are common hitchhikers on live rock. Some keepers rotate in chocolate chip stars or other affordable species as a supplement. Despite the care level being listed as beginner, the feeding requirement demands real planning and commitment. This is not a shrimp you can toss into a community reef and forget. Keep them as a pair in a species-appropriate setup and they will reward you with fascinating cooperative hunting behavior.