Blood Red Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debelius)

Lysmata debelius is a close relative of the classic cleaner shrimp, sharing that genus's protandric hermaphroditism — it starts life as a male and later transitions to female as it matures. It's noticeably shier than its cleaning-station cousins though, spending more time tucked into rock crevices and less time out advertising for fish to clean, so don't be surprised if this one's mostly a flash of red disappearing into a crack rather than a constant presence.

Care level: Easy · Temperament: Peaceful · Max size: ~2" · Min tank: 20 gal · Reef safe: Yes · Diet: Omnivore, scavenger + parasites