The banded cleaner shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) is a small shrimp, barely around four inches in length. It is characterized by its body and large pincers covered with broad red and white bands. It has two pairs of long white antennas.

The banded cleaner shrimp is mainly found in the Caribbean sea in the reefs of many islands like Guadeloupe but it is also present in tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans.

The banded cleaner shrimp is found from the surface down to about 50 feet deep. It frequents the many crevices found in coral reefs.

The banded cleaner shrimp primarily feeds on parasites carried by fish but also on small crustaceans.

The female is larger than the male and it is not uncommon to find a pair tucked inside a crevice with their heads down. The female, whose egg-laying cycle is governed by her molting, carries her eggs for about six weeks until they hatch, giving birth to small larvae that will develop in open water.

The banded cleaner shrimp spends its day waiting for fish in need of a little cleaning.

Often found in groups with other shrimp or other banded cleaner shrimp, they form actual « cleaning stations » where fish regularly stop by.

Pay special attention to the reef's crevices while searching for long pairs of white antennas !