Banded Boxing Shrimp

The Banded Boxing Shrimp, or Coral Banded Shrimp, is a popular invertebrate known for its striking red and white banded body and long, white antennae. It gets its name from its large, pinching claws, which it often holds up in a 'boxer-like' defensive posture. It is a scavenger that will also clean fish, setting up a 'cleaning station' similar to a cleaner wrasse. It is reef-safe but can be aggressive towards other shrimp, especially its own kind, unless it is a mated pair. An interesting fact is that it is a 'simultaneous hermaphrodite,' meaning it has both male and female reproductive organs at the same time.