Hymenocera picta

Dana, 1852

Eastern Harlequin, Clown Shrimp

Range: Indo-West Pacific Ocean

Size: 2 inches (5 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow coastal reefs and lagoons and usually seen on bottom protected areas feeding on the legs/feet of seastars.

General Husbandry: Occasionally seen in the trade.

This species feeds only upon live starfish. I say, "only on live starfish," as they will not take dead or frozen ones.

You'll need a fresh live starfish, preferably the genus Linckia (Blue Stars), and they tend to consume one every four to six weeks.

Seeing a starfish torn apart and almost completely eaten may not be the thing you want to witness in your home aquarium!

Besides being carnivorous, they are very territorial. Therefore only one or a mated pair can be kept in the same aquarium.

Best maintained without other species of shrimp in the aquarium, and maintain either singly or in mated pairs.

Taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Malacostraca

Order: Decapoda

Family: Palaemonidae

Genus: Hymenocera

FYI: What was Hymenocera elegans, has been reclassified as Hymenocera picta.

Experience Level: Intermediate

Diet: Carnivore

Temperament: Peaceful

Aquarium Environment: Reef or fish-only aquarium

Coral Safe: Yes

Fish Safe: Yes

Invertebrate Safe: Yes, but not seastars!

Acclimation Time: Shrimp are 'very' sensitive to specific gravity/salinity changes. Therefore, be sure to adjust the bag's water to that of the aquarium in which it will be placed by slowly adding small amounts of aquarium water to the bag every few minutes. In most cases, this process should take at least 15 minutes.

Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy

Calcium (Ca): 380 - 430 mg/l

Alkalinity: 2.5 - 3.0 meq/l

Phosphate (PO4): <0.05 mg/l

Magnesium (Mg): approx. 1350 mg/l (relate to specific gravity) Extremely important for molting!

Strontium (Sr) 8 - 10 mg/l

Iodine (I) Trace element additives containing iodine should be used as recommended by their makers, as iodine is also vital for the molting process.

Temperature Range: 75 - 85°F (24 - 29°C)

Minimum Tank Size: Perfect for Nano tanks and/or larger aquaria

Lighting: PAR ratings N/A

Water Movement: WM 1 - 2

Specific Gravity: 1.023 - 1.025

pH: 8.0 - 8.4