Cleaner Shrimp
Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
Species: Marine Cleaner Shrimp
Growth Form: Slender body with long white antennae; typically reaches 2–3 inches (5–7.5 cm).
Coloration: Bright red and white longitudinal stripes with long white antennae and yellow accents.
Temperament: Peaceful, social, and reef safe; may establish cleaning stations frequented by marine fish.
Tank Size: Minimum 20 gallons.
Placement: Live rock, caves, and sheltered reef areas.
Lighting: Low to high; adaptable to standard reef aquarium lighting.
Flow: Low to moderate, with good circulation and oxygenation.
Diet: Omnivore; feeds on parasites, mucus, leftover food, and other organic matter.
Feeding: Marine pellets, algae-based foods, frozen mysis shrimp, enriched brine shrimp, and finely chopped seafood.
Care Level: Easy
Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
Available for local pickup only
Overview
The Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis), also called the Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, is one of the most recognizable and beneficial shrimp in the marine aquarium hobby. With its vivid red body, bright white stripe running from head to tail, and long white antennae, this shrimp is both beautiful and functional. Famous for its “cleaning station” behavior, it will happily remove parasites and dead tissue from fish, often hopping right inside their mouths or gills to perform its service.
Key Care Information
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Species: Lysmata amboinensis
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Common Names: Cleaner Shrimp, Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
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Size: 2–2.5 in (5–6 cm)
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Temperament: Peaceful and social; safe with reef fish, corals, and invertebrates
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Reef Safe: ✅ Yes – does not harm corals or other sessile inverts
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Tank Size: 20+ gallons recommended
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Placement: Often perches on rockwork, overhangs, or caves, where it sets up its cleaning station
Tank Requirements
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Lighting: Standard reef lighting; not picky
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Water Flow: Moderate; ensure areas of calm water where shrimp can perch
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Water Parameters:
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Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°C)
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Salinity: 1.023–1.025
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pH: 8.1–8.4
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dKH: 8–12
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Diet & Feeding
Cleaner Shrimp are omnivorous scavengers. While they primarily survive on leftover food, fish mucus, and parasites in the wild, in captivity they will readily eat:
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Frozen mysis and brine shrimp
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High-quality pellets or flakes
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Chopped seafood
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Occasional algae-based foods
👉 It’s recommended to supplement feeding 1–2 times per week, especially in smaller aquariums where leftover food is limited.
Behavior & Compatibility
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Very peaceful and makes an excellent community invertebrate.
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Will form symbiotic relationships with fish by offering cleaning services.
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Can be kept in groups, though in smaller tanks a pair is usually best.
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Safe with all corals, clams, and most other inverts.
Breeding Notes
Cleaner Shrimp are hermaphroditic – all individuals can produce eggs once paired. In aquariums, pairs often release planktonic larvae, though raising them to adulthood is very challenging without specialized setups.
✅ Fun Facts
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Cleaner Shrimp wave their long antennae to advertise their cleaning services to passing fish.
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Brave fish like groupers or tangs will open their mouths wide to allow the shrimp to climb inside and pick out parasites!
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In nature, divers can spot “cleaning stations” where multiple shrimp service fish traffic like a car wash. 🚗🐟