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Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata amboinensis
Other Names: Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Origin: Indo-Pacific
Reef Safe: Yes. Jumper: No.Max Size: 3
Reccomended Tank Size: 10 gallon minimum.
Temperature range: 72-86F
Description:
Cleaner Shrimps are easily spotted with their red and white stripes that extend the length of their body. They have six long white antennas which are used for feeling spacial distances.
The Cleaner Shrimp's name is derrived from their ability to clean off dead tissue and parasites on large fish. Fish will often stop swimming infront of a cleaner shrimp in effort to get them to start cleaning. The shrimp are more than happy to oblige seeing it as an opportunity for a free meal. If your hands are placed in the tank near a cleaner shrimp it's likely to hop on and try to give you a cleaning as well.
Diet:
As scavengers these shrimp will accept almost any prepared food they can reach. They do not need to be directly fed in a tank with other fish, they will be able to seek out the excess that floats to the bottom of the tank or gets stuck in the rocks.
Temperament:
Although the cleaner shrimp would never be considered aggressive, they can steal food from Large Polyped Stony corals and anemones that are being fed. If a cleaner shrimp is found picking at a dead fish it should be noted that the fish was most likely dead well before the shrimp reached it and not to be blamed for the fish's death.
Special Notes:
Breeding: A pair of Cleaner Shrimp will often mate in the home aquarium. The female carries the eggs under her carapace in the fins under her body. The eggs will have a yellow-green appearance. While mating is common, the process of raising the hatchlings is long and difficult, often taking close to a year to produce adult Cleaner Shrimp.
Molting: Cleaner Shrimp will frequently molt in ideal conditions. The molt often has the appearance of a dead Cleaner Shrimp and can create a scare for the hobbyist to find it. The molt will appear to be a faded version of the Cleaner Shrimp and may float around the tank. The Cleaner Shrimp will usually hide for the first few days after the molt due to it's new soft and vulnerable exoskeleton. Cleaner Shrimp molts do not have to be removed from the aquarium, they will naturally break down and disappear rather quickly if left alone.
