The ground colour is transparent,[5] but the carapace, abdomen and the large third pereiopod are all banded red and white.

[6] Stenopus hispidus lives below the intertidal zone, at depth of up to 210 metres (690 ft),[2] on coral reefs.

[5] It is a cleaner shrimp, and advertises to passing fish by slowly waving its long, white antennae.

al (2000), displaying a result that the dancing behavior observed in cleaner shrimp acts as a signal to inform surrounding fish that they are ready to feed and clean.

[8] S. hispidus uses its three pairs of claws to remove parasites, fungi and damaged tissue from the fish.