Marbled shrimp (Saron marmoratus) care guide

Group
Shrimp
Other names
Saron shrimp, Common marble shrimp, Monkey shrimp, Feather duster shrimp
Family
Hippolytidae
Origin
Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa through India and Southeast Asia to Australia and Hawaii, in lagoons and coral rubble
Water
saltwater
Maximum size
5 cm
Temperature
22–26°C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
dKH 8–12, SG 1.023–1.025
Minimum tank
75 litres
Care level
beginner
Temperament
peaceful
Reef safe
with_caution
Lifespan
2–4 years

Care

The marbled or saron shrimp is a stocky, well-camouflaged shrimp of about 5 cm, first described in 1811. Its base colour is red, blue or brown, mottled with brown or green, and its legs are banded; at night the body turns mainly red. The rostrum is strongly curved upwards and tufts of feathery bristles cover the body. Males have very long front legs and claws, longer than the body. It lives among coral and rubble in lagoons across the Indo-Pacific, usually shallower than 12 m. Set-up: an established tank of 75 litres or more with rock, rubble and a dark hiding place for the first weeks. It is nocturnal at first and becomes active by day once settled. Keep one, or a mated pair; two males usually fight. Water: LiveAquaria gives 22–26 °C, pH 8.1–8.4, dKH 8–12 and SG 1.023–1.025. It is sensitive to high nitrate and needs adequate iodine to moult. Reef safety: LiveAquaria lists it as not reef compatible, and Wikipedia notes it also eats coral polyps. It may leave hardy corals alone if well fed, but it can pick at soft corals, zoanthids, LPS and feather dusters, so it suits fish-only tanks or reefs with tough corals only. 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. Saron shrimp are sensitive to copper. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/saron-shrimp); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saronmarmoratus). Checked October 2026.

Diet

An omnivore and scavenger. At night it sifts sand for detritus and plankton and scavenges larger food. In aquariums feed frozen mysis and brine shrimp, chopped seafood, plankton, flakes and pellets. Well-fed shrimp are less likely to turn to corals.

Breeding

Males have long front claws; females are more heavily tufted with bristles. Pairs may spawn in aquariums, and females carry eggs under the tail. The larvae are planktonic and are not raised in home tanks.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful towards most fish, but it may eat small invertebrates and coral polyps (see reef safety). Do not keep two males together. Avoid shrimp-eating fish such as hawkfish, dottybacks, lionfish, triggers and large wrasses. Fine with larger peaceful fish and other robust shrimp, though it may compete with cleaner shrimp for food.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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