This Emperor Shrimp's Colors Are So Astounding (4 Photos)

The emperor shrimp is a small commensal shrimp, about a 3/4-inch in length. It's an interesting creature that forms symbiotic relationships in order to maximize its chance of survival. This species of shrimp can also be kept in a home aquarium but is not a great choice for beginner aquarium-keepers.

As Pets: Emperor shrimp can be kept as pets in a home marine or reef aquarium. They will, however, need to be kept with an appropriate host, such as a nudibranch, sea cucumber or Medusa worm. They don't need much space themselves, so the size of the aquarium will be determined by the size and space requirements of the host. Avoid housing them with any of their natural predators, such as larger fish species.