Fire Shrimp

Also known as Blood Shrimp, Blood Red Fire Shrimp

The Fire Shrimp is a stunning species featuring deep blood-red coloration with bright white spots and antennae. Native to the Indo-Pacific, this relatively shy but beautiful shrimp is highly prized for its dramatic appearance and peaceful nature. While more reclusive than cleaner shrimp, it brings incredible color to reef aquariums and may occasionally perform cleaning services.

Key Features

• Scientific Name: Lysmata debelius
• Common Names: Fire Shrimp, Blood Shrimp, Blood Red Fire Shrimp, Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp
• Adult Size: Up to 2 inches
• Lifespan: 2–3 years with proper care; up to 4 years with optimal conditions
• Temperament: Peaceful and shy – excellent community member
• Reef Compatibility: Completely reef safe – will not harm corals or invertebrates
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons minimum; 30+ gallons preferred
• Experience Level: Easy to Moderate – hardy but somewhat shy

Habitat & Tank Requirements

• Tank Environment: MUST provide caves, overhangs, and deep crevices in live rock for security. Prefers dimly lit hiding spots with single entrance/exit. Subdued lighting or shaded areas preferred, though will adapt to brighter tanks. More likely to emerge in established, peaceful tanks.
• Water Parameters:
  • Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°C)
  • Salinity: 1.023–1.025
  • pH: 8.1–8.4
  • Maintain stable, excellent water quality
• Equipment Recommendations:
  • High-quality filtration system
  • Protein skimmer recommended
  • Gentle to moderate water flow
  • Subdued lighting or provide shaded areas
  • Avoid copper-based medications

Diet & Feeding

Fire Shrimp are opportunistic omnivores:

• Staples: Frozen mysis shrimp, frozen brine shrimp, high-quality sinking pellets, chopped frozen seafood
• Supplemental: Flake food, algae wafers, leftover fish food, detritus
• Natural Behavior: May occasionally clean parasites and debris from fish, though less consistently than L. amboinensis cleaner shrimp
• Feeding Frequency: Once daily; target feed near hiding spots to ensure adequate nutrition
• Special Note: May be outcompeted by aggressive feeders. Feeding after lights dim can encourage them to emerge. Often more bold during feeding time.

Social Structure & Behavior

• Best Kept as: Single specimen or male/female pair
• Sexual System: Simultaneous hermaphrodites – all individuals have both male and female reproductive organs
• Pairing: Pairs can be kept successfully and may breed in aquariums. Pairs are generally more confident and visible.
• Breeding: Pairs commonly breed, with individuals carrying visible dark green or brown eggs. Larvae are extremely difficult to raise.
• Activity Pattern: Primarily nocturnal and secretive, especially when first introduced. Becomes gradually bolder over weeks or months.
• Social Behavior: Peaceful with all species including other shrimp
• Tank Mates: Compatible with all peaceful fish and invertebrates

Notes & Considerations

• Significantly more shy and reclusive than Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (L. amboinensis) – may remain hidden for extended periods.
• Patience is essential – can take weeks to months for Fire Shrimp to become comfortable and regularly visible.
• Stunning coloration makes brief appearances highly rewarding – deep blood red with brilliant white spots.
• More likely to be visible in peaceful, established aquariums without aggressive fish.
• Subdued lighting or dawn/dusk periods encourage bolder behavior.
• May venture out more confidently when kept as pair versus single specimen.
• Long, bright white antennae often visible even when body is hidden in cave.
• Like all Lysmata species, may breed in home aquariums and carry eggs.
• Molts regularly; may remain hidden for several days around molting periods.
• Provide iodine supplementation to support healthy molting cycles.
• Vulnerable to predation by triggers, large wrasses, groupers, lionfish, and other predatory species.
• Excellent jumpers when startled – secure aquarium lid recommended.
• Like all invertebrates, extremely sensitive to copper-based treatments – remove before medicating display tank.
• Can regenerate lost appendages over multiple molts.
• More sensitive to water quality fluctuations than some hardier shrimp species.

Why Choose a Quarantined Fire Shrimp?

Purchasing a quarantined specimen from us means you’re receiving a healthy, well-acclimated shrimp that has been observed for normal behavior, molting cycles, and feeding response. Our specimens have been conditioned to become more confident and are actively accepting prepared foods, giving you the best foundation for successfully keeping this breathtakingly beautiful but somewhat shy species in your reef aquarium.