Cleaner Shrimp

Also known as Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp

The Cleaner Shrimp is one of the most popular and beneficial invertebrates in the marine aquarium hobby, famous for its bright red coloration with distinctive white stripes and its symbiotic cleaning behavior with fish. Native to the Indo-Pacific, this peaceful and hardy species is valued for its utility, personality, and striking appearance.

Key Features

• Scientific Name: Lysmata amboinensis
• Common Names: Cleaner Shrimp, Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp, Pacific Cleaner Shrimp
• Adult Size: Up to 2–2.5 inches
• Lifespan: 2–3 years with proper care; up to 4 years with optimal conditions
• Temperament: Peaceful and social – excellent community member
• Reef Compatibility: Completely reef safe – will not harm corals or invertebrates
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons minimum; 30+ gallons for multiple specimens
• Experience Level: Easy – hardy, adaptable, and beginner-friendly

Habitat & Tank Requirements

• Tank Environment: Provide live rock with caves, ledges, and overhangs for shelter. Benefits from establishing cleaning stations in visible, moderate-flow areas. Moderate lighting acceptable. Open swimming areas allow fish to approach for cleaning.
• Water Parameters:
  • Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°C)
  • Salinity: 1.023–1.025
  • pH: 8.1–8.4
  • Maintain stable, good water quality with regular maintenance
• Equipment Recommendations:
  • Standard filtration system
  • Protein skimmer recommended
  • Moderate water flow
  • Avoid copper-based medications in display tank

Diet & Feeding

Cleaner Shrimp are opportunistic omnivores:

• Staples: High-quality pellets, frozen mysis shrimp, frozen brine shrimp, chopped frozen seafood
• Natural Behavior: Clean parasites, dead tissue, mucus, and debris from fish. This provides significant supplemental nutrition.
• Supplemental: Flake food, leftover fish food, algae wafers
• Feeding Frequency: Once daily; small amounts. Often obtains substantial nutrition from cleaning activities.
• Special Note: Will actively solicit cleaning opportunities from fish by rocking back and forth and waving long white antennae. Many fish species learn to visit them regularly.

Social Structure & Behavior

• Best Kept as: Single, pair, or small group (3–5 individuals)
• Sexual System: Simultaneous hermaphrodites – all individuals possess both male and female reproductive organs
• Breeding: Pairs or groups commonly breed in aquariums, carrying visible green/brown eggs. Larvae are extremely difficult to raise but fascinating to observe.
• Social Behavior: Peaceful with conspecifics and all other species
• Cleaning Stations: Establish favorite perching spots and will advertise cleaning services by dancing and waving antennae
• Activity Level: Active during day and night; highly visible and interactive
• Tank Mates: Compatible with virtually all peaceful fish, other shrimp species, and invertebrates

Notes & Considerations

• One of the most interactive and personable invertebrates – often greets aquarists during tank maintenance and may even clean hands.
• Fish in the aquarium will quickly learn to visit cleaning stations, creating fascinating natural behavior.
• Particularly effective at removing parasites from fish, providing real health benefits.
• Groups are more confident and active than single specimens.
• When breeding, females will carry eggs under their tail for approximately 2 weeks before releasing larvae at night.
• Excellent jumpers, especially when startled – secure lid recommended.
• Very hardy and tolerant of varied water conditions compared to many invertebrates.
• Long, sweeping white antennae can span 3–4 times body length and are highly sensitive.
• Will molt regularly; provide iodine supplementation for healthy molting cycles.
• May be vulnerable to predation by triggers, large wrasses, lionfish, groupers, or other predatory species.
• Like all invertebrates, extremely sensitive to copper-based treatments – remove to quarantine tank if medicating display.
• Can regenerate lost claws and appendages over several molts.
• One of the best “beginner” invertebrates due to hardiness and adaptability.

Why Choose a Quarantined Cleaner Shrimp?

Purchasing a quarantined specimen from us means you’re receiving a healthy, well-acclimated shrimp that has been observed for normal behavior, molting, and feeding response. Our specimens are robust, actively accepting prepared foods, and free from parasites or disease, giving you the best foundation for adding this beneficial and engaging species to your reef aquarium.