[2][3] Stenopus scutellatus is commonly found in shallow waters in the western Atlantic Ocean, Bermuda, the West Indies, the Gulf of Mexico and southwards to northern Brazil at depths between 10 and 113 metres (33 and 371 ft).

They lurk in crevices with their long antennae visible and waving to advertise their presence.

They offer cleaning services to fish which will approach and adopt special attitudes while parasites, such as isopods, and pieces of dead skin are removed and eaten by the shrimp.

[4] They are rather more shy than the banded cleaner shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) and approach the fishes that attend the cleaning station more cautiously.

[2] They sometimes just remain inside their niches picking at the side of the visiting fish immediately outside.