Care guide
Caring for saltwater shrimp
Cleaner, peppermint and other reef shrimp are colourful, useful additions. They're sensitive to water changes and copper, and need a stable, mature tank.
Stable water
Acclimate shrimp slowly (drip acclimation) and keep salinity steady. Never treat a tank with shrimp using copper.
What they do
Cleaner shrimp pick parasites from fish. Peppermint shrimp eat Aiptasia anemone pests. Sexy shrimp may pick at some corals.
Moulting
Shrimp shed their shells as they grow and hide afterwards. Don't keep them with fish that eat shrimp.
Further reading
General information to help you prepare, not veterinary advice. Every animal is different: ask an experienced vet about yours. Reviewed by PerfectPal on October 14, 2026.