Getting a "manicure"

Several of the cleaning shrimp that reside on local reefs can be enticed to come out and nip away at bits of dead skin on fingers.

The Pederson cleaner shrimp, which lives in association with several sea anemone species, will often jump on slowly extended fingers, and start working away.  This species, basically transparent with purple-blue spots, is an inch long, or less.  To attract cleaning clients (i.e., fish) the shrimp wave their long, white antennae. Their claws are quite tiny, so although each pinch can be felt, there is no pain.

These photos were taken at a depth of about 25 feet.