Spotted Cleaner Shrimp

A spotted cleaner shrimp can be difficult to see until its white antennae or patterned abdomen catch the light. Periclimenes yucatanicus combines a nearly transparent body with conspicuous pale and darker markings. Look for white or ochre-centered patches on the back and sides, banding on the legs and claws, and blue accents around the tail. The long antennae are another useful feature, but antennae alone cannot distinguish every cleaner shrimp.

This is a small animal best appreciated through patient close observation. The FFESSM identification account describes a body length of about two to three centimeters. Photograph the complete body, including its tail and leg pattern, rather than relying on one bright spot. Compare the resulting photograph with identified examples of both this species and Pederson’s cleaner shrimp; sharing a cleaning habit does not make them the same species.

Where it belongs locally

A ReefGuide photograph explicitly identifies a spotted cleaner shrimp from Palm Beach, Florida. That is a useful local field record within the Vero–Key Largo corridor, although the displayed page does not provide a capture date. It should not be read as a promise that the animal is present at a particular dive site today. This is an anemone-associated marine shrimp, not an open-water schooling animal. Published identification material records associations with several anemones, including giant Caribbean and corkscrew anemones.

Food and behavior

The name reflects real behavior. A comparative study published in 2017 observed fish cleaning in Curaçao and recorded signaling with the antennae. However, this shrimp’s cleaning interactions were generally briefer and less frequent than those of Pederson’s cleaner shrimp in that study. The findings support calling it a cleaner, but do not establish that cleaning provides its entire diet or that every nearby fish will receive attention.

Reproduction and observation

Egg-bearing females carry eggs beneath the abdomen; the FFESSM account illustrates the pinkish egg mass. A Florida-wide breeding calendar is not established by the sources used here. Egg carriage, transparency and antenna signaling offer three rewarding details to watch without touching the shrimp or its host.

Keep fins and camera equipment clear of anemone tentacles. Wait for natural movement instead of moving the host or presenting a fish to provoke cleaning. This profile is for identification, not collection permission. Consult current FWC marine-life rules and the rules for the exact park, sanctuary or shore-access area before considering any collection.

References

• Palm Beach spotted cleaner shrimp photograph
• FFESSM identification and egg-bearing observations
• 2017 comparative cleaning-behavior study
• FWC marine-life rules

Collection and habitat protection

Check current FWC marine-life requirements and exact-site restrictions before collecting. This profile is for observation, not collection authorization. Current FWC marine-life guidance. Guidance reviewed November 12, 2026. No location-specific collection clearance is given.

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