There are many kinds of cleaner
shrimps. The shrimp in the picture is
one of them. The red and white
stripes of the shrimp make it stand
out like a lighthouse and help a fish
which needs cleaning find the
shrimp. When the shrimp, with its two
long white antennae, settles in on the fish,
the fish begins to wait patiently for the shrimp to
eat the parasites on its skin or from wounds. The cleaner shrimp can
even enter the fish’s mouth to remove disturbing parasites. In this way,
it finds its own nourishment. The shrimp keeps working until it makes
sure that the fish is clean all over. When the job is done, the big fish
does not do the slightest harm to the shrimp, which in fact could rep-
resent a lavish meal. The shrimp acts without worrying whether the big
fish will attack it or not. As seen in the picture on the left, these two
creatures get along very well.
Concepts like “getting along well”, “giving guarantee” are peculiar to
humans, who have intellect and intelligence, and therefore cannot
apply to these creatures. Yet, Allah, Who has control and
power over all things, taught these creatures to behave
so, to trust and co-operate with each other. So, they
can live with no trouble.
W O N D E R F U L C R E A T U R E S
101
