Uploaded February 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
A Giant Moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus) is cleaned by several species of cleaner shrimp.
In the lower left at the start of the clip you can see a larger Banded boxer shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) begin cleaning the Moray; then it seems to decide the attempt is ill timed and moves to the ceiling of the coral alcove cleaning station.
At the same time a White-striped cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) moves up the right side of the eel. The White-striped shrimp, also known has Broken back shrimp, removes parasites and gets a meal while the Moray enjoys healthier skin, the essence of symbiosis. As the shrimp picks its way around the Moray's body it appears that it might go a little deep on a couple occasions, evidenced by the Moray's reactions. After about 45 seconds of cleaning and feeding the shrimp simply steps off the eel onto the coral wall.
Now that he has had his skin taken care of the eel is ready for some dentistry, for that see part 2.
Filmed in the Maldives during our Waitt Expedition with 100 Island Challenge from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Maldives Marine Research Institute and the Government fo the Maldives. We are working there to help protect the ocean around that island archipelago by collecting scientific data to inform their Marine Spatial Plan.
Film by Joe Lepore.
A Giant Moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus) is cleaned by several species of cleaner shrimp.
In the lower left at the start of the clip you can see a larger Banded boxer shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) begin cleaning the Moray; then it seems to decide the attempt is ill timed and moves to the ceiling of the coral alcove cleaning station.
At the same time a White-striped cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) moves up the right side of the eel. The White-striped shrimp, also known has Broken back shrimp, removes parasites and gets a meal while the Moray enjoys healthier skin, the essence of symbiosis. As the shrimp picks its way around the Moray's body it appears that it might go a little deep on a couple occasions, evidenced by the Moray's reactions. After about 45 seconds of cleaning and feeding the shrimp simply steps off the eel onto the coral wall.
Now that he has had his skin taken care of the eel is ready for some dentistry, for that see part 2.
Filmed in the Maldives during our Waitt Expedition with 100 Island Challenge from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Maldives Marine Research Institute and the Government fo the Maldives. We are working there to help protect the ocean around that island archipelago by collecting scientific data to inform their Marine Spatial Plan.
Film by Joe Lepore.
