Clear cleaner shrimp (Urocaridella antonbruunii) care guide
- Group
- Shrimp
- Other names
- Red-white cleaner shrimp, Periclimenes antonbruunii, Leandrites cyrtorhynchus, Anton Bruun's cleaner shrimp, Hovering cleaner shrimp
- Family
- Palaemonidae
- Origin
- Indo-Pacific shallow coral reefs, from the Maldives to Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Hawaii, at 2–66 m
- Water
- saltwater
- Maximum size
- 3 cm
- Temperature
- 24–27°C
- pH
- 8.1–8.4
- Hardness
- dKH 8–12, SG 1.023–1.025
- Minimum tank
- 75 litres
- Care level
- intermediate
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Reef safe
- yes
- Lifespan
- 2–3 years
Care
The clear cleaner shrimp is a small, almost transparent cleaner shrimp of 2.5–3 cm, scattered with bright red and yellow spots. Its long rostrum curves upwards, its walking legs are banded red and white, and its antennae are clear rather than white. The tail bends at a sharp right angle, with a red spot just behind a white one. It lives on shallow coral reefs across the Indo-Pacific. It was first named Periclimenes antonbruunii, and Leandrites cyrtorhynchus is a later synonym. Set-up: a reef or fish-only tank of 75 litres or more with caves and overhangs, where shrimp gather at a cleaning station. They are best kept in a small group, which makes them bolder and more visible. They hover in mid-water by beating their swimming legs. Water: Water figures here are general reef guidance rather than from a source. Aim for 24–27 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, dKH 8–12 and SG 1.023–1.025, with stable salinity and low nitrate. Acclimatise slowly by drip. Behaviour and role: a true cleaner shrimp. It sets up near a cleaning station, sways and hovers to attract fish, then picks off external parasites and feeds on mucus. It is the first shrimp recorded cleaning sleeping rabbitfish at night. In aquariums it may clean resident fish, which can help, but it does not replace quarantine or treatment. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most other invertebrates. Never treat a tank holding them with copper, check the label of any fertiliser or medicine, and keep nets and buckets used for copper-treated tanks separate. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urocaridellaantonbruunii). Checked October 2026.
Diet
In the wild it eats parasites and mucus from fish, plus copepods, microorganisms and debris. In aquariums it takes frozen mysis, brine shrimp, finely chopped seafood, pellets and flake. Make sure food reaches it; small, shy cleaners can lose out to fish.
Breeding
Unlike Lysmata cleaner shrimp, it has separate sexes, and pairs perform a courtship display before mating. Females carry eggs under the tail. The larvae are planktonic and are not raised in home tanks.
Compatibility and tank mates
Peaceful and reef safe. Good with most reef fish and invertebrates and with other cleaner shrimp. Fish that eat small shrimp will eat it: hawkfish, dottybacks, lionfish, large wrasses, groupers and triggers. Keep it with fish that accept cleaning, such as tangs, angelfish and rabbitfish.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.