Pederson Cleaner Shrimp in Cozumel

Almost completely transparent, marked with violet spots and bands, living on or beside a corkscrew anemone. Easy to miss until it moves.

Quick ID

Where You Will See It In Cozumel

Pederson Cleaner Shrimp works the 9 to 82 foot band. On this island that means the sheltered west-coast reefs, and the shallow east-side entries when the sea is flat — these are the sites where the depth and the habitat line up for it.

Without a boat. It is worth looking for at Tikkila Shallow, Chankanaab Shallow and Chen Rio — all shore entries, so you dive them on your own schedule.

On an ordinary beginner boat dive. It should be within reach at Chankanaab Bolones, Columbia Shallows, El Cielo, La Francesa and Las Palmas. No advanced certification needed.

Deeper, and on the walls. It is also plausible on Devil's Throat, Los Atolones, Maracaibo and Palancar Bricks.

Conditions change the odds more than the site does — the current, the time of day and how much the group has already stirred up the sand. Ask your guide what they have been seeing that week.

Behaviour

Runs a cleaning station from the anemone, waving to attract fish and then working over the body, gills and mouth. Immune to the anemone's sting, which gives it a defended shopfront.

Commonly Confused With

• Banded coral shrimp — Banded coral shrimp are larger with bold red-and-white bands and banded claws.
• Spotted cleaner shrimp — Spotted cleaner shrimp are stouter with white-edged spots and also live on anemones.

Diving Etiquette And Safety

Do not touch the anemone. Hold position and watch — cleaning stations are the best five minutes on most Cozumel reefs.

Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip

Photo: Laszlo Ilyes, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.