About Marbled Shrimp
Marbled shrimp — nocturnal, camouflaged, and visually striking when you catch one out under blue lights. Reef-safe and peaceful; an unusual alternative to the standard cleaner shrimp lineup for a more naturalistic display.
Saron marmoratus, commonly known as the marbled shrimp, is a species of cleaner shrimp in the family Hippolytidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific region but in 2013 it was also found off the coast of Lebanon, probably having reached the Mediterranean by Lessepsian migration through the Suez Canal from the Red Sea. It is a popular species in aquaria due to its easy care.
Notes from the editors
What it looks like. Mottled brown-and-cream shrimp that's nearly invisible against rockwork by day. Under blue lighting reveals iridescent green-and-blue accents.
In your tank. Nocturnal — most active when the lights go out. Unusual alternative to the standard cleaner shrimp lineup for keepers who want a more naturalistic, less in-your-face display.
Care notes. Reef-safe and peaceful. Acclimate slowly via drip — shrimp are extremely sensitive to salinity changes.
Sourcing and feeding. Wild-collected from Indo-Pacific reefs ($25–50). Omnivore — leftover food, frozen mysis.
Care info is a starting point, not a guarantee. Individual specimens, water chemistry, and tankmate dynamics vary. Verify against multiple sources and adjust to what you observe. See our terms & disclaimers.
Related invertebrates
Sources & attribution
- Taxonomy and accepted name from the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS AphiaID 210450).
- Description content adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Photo: (c) Pauline Walsh Jacobson, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (via iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons).