It is popular as a freshwater aquarium species across Asia, Europe, and North America.

[2][3][4] The specific name is derived from the Latin word pulcher, which means "beautiful".

It was eventually traced to the Bird's Head Peninsula in New Guinea, where a number of specimens were collected with the help of the Maju Aquarium in Jakarta.

[2] The species is brightly colored, with a pink cephalothorax that fades into greenish-grey on the sides.

[2] So far the species has only been found in Hoa Creek near the village of Teminabuan in West Papua, Indonesia.