The relationship between the spotted cleaner shrimp and their fishy clients is considered a mutualism, where both species benefit.

Cleaner shrimp occur worldwide in almost every habitat from sea water to fresh water. They are generally respected by other creatures with whom they often share burrows and holes and work as housekeepers. The Spotted Cleaner Shrimp is common to the Caribbean Sea living among the tentacles of several species of sea anemones in a mutually beneficial relationship. They sway their bodies and wave their antennae in order to attract fishy customers for their services.

The tiny cleaner shrimp, which is found at ocean depths down to 79 feet and grows to a length of about an inch, often enters the mouths of fishes and cleans behind their gill covers, apparently with no likelihood that it will be eaten. In return, while hovering near the sea anemone hosts of cleaner shrimps, client fishes potentially benefit the anemones by excreting nutrients that may be absorbed. The cleaner shrimp dine on parasites like ich and fish lice that infect fish scales and gills. So, everybody wins.