Marble Shrimp

About

The marble shrimp (Saron marmoratus) is one of the more visually interesting crustaceans that occasionally shows up in the marine hobby. Its body is covered in a dense mosaic of greens, browns, reds, and white flecks that blend remarkably well against live rock and rubble. A camouflage pattern that genuinely earns the "marble" name. Males develop noticeably longer front appendages than females, making the two sexes fairly easy to tell apart once you know what to look for. In the wild, this shrimp is found across the Indo-Pacific and into the Red Sea, typically in shallow reef zones where it tucks into crevices and under rocks during daylight hours. It is a committed nocturnal forager, so don't be surprised if yours seems to vanish during the day and then reappears after lights out. It will scavenge whatever it finds, algae, detritus, meaty bits, which makes feeding it pretty straightforward. The marble shrimp is generally considered a workable choice for newer marine keepers, though it is worth noting that, like many ornamental shrimp, it is sensitive to copper-based medications and sudden swings in salinity. Keep it with peaceful fish and avoid housing it with anything large enough to make a meal of it.