Coral Banded Shrimp

The Coral Banded Shrimp, Stenopus hispicus, features a striking red and white body with long white antennae and two muscular pincers. It can also be known as the Boxing Shrimp for its propensity to hit its prey with those large claws. The Coral Banded Shrimp should not be housed with members of its own species unless they are a mated pair. They may also become aggressive towards other Shrimp species and crustaceans such as Hermit Crabs or Snails, therefor caution is advised when adding this Shrimp to your tank.

The Coral Banded Shrimp prefer tanks with plenty of live rock to provide hiding places to search for prey. Target feeding them a carnivorous diet consisting of chopped meaty preparations is suggested, as it can deter them from hunting tank mates.

They will often shed their entire exoskeleton in a process called molting while they are growing. Often times they may lose their claws or legs during transit, but will grow them back when they molt. Overall, the Coral Banded Shrimp is a staple in the home aquarium for being very hardy, as well as its  ability to eat pesky bristle worms and flat worms.