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Skunk Cleaner Shrimp

Lysmata amboinensis · family Lysmata

Also: Pacific Cleaner Shrimp, Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp

Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) — aquarium fish
Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA

Parameters

Temperature
24–27 °C
pH
8.1–8.4
Hardness
12–18 °dGH
Tank volume
from 40 L
Maximum size
up to 6 cm
Group size
min 1, ideal 2
Temperament
Peaceful
Swimming zone
Bottom
Difficulty
Beginner
Lifespan
3–4 years

Description

The Pacific Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) is the quintessential marine reef invertebrate, sporting twin crimson stripes bisecting a bright white dorsal stripe and long white antennae. It sets up cleaning stations on live rock where reef fish line up to have ectoparasites and dead tissue gently removed.

Care

Maintain a reef tank of 40+ liters at stable specific gravity SG 1.024–1.025, pH 8.1–8.4, with trace iodine for healthy molting and zero copper medications. Drip-acclimate for 60 minutes before introduction.

Feeding

In addition to parasites and detritus, eagerly accepts sinking marine pellets, frozen Mysis, and brine shrimp right from feeding tongs.

Breeding

Simultaneous hermaphrodites: any two individuals can cross-fertilize each other and carry bright green eggs beneath their swimmerets.

Compatibility

  • Regal Blue Tang

    Paracanthurus hepatus

    Идеальный симбиоз в рифовом аквариуме. / Classic mutualistic cleaning symbiosis in marine reef tanks.

    Good

FAQ

Can a Skunk Cleaner Shrimp cure Marine Ich by itself?
Cleaner shrimp pick off larger surface parasites and soothe irritated fish, but cannot eradicate free-swimming theronts or cysts in the sand—combine them with UV sterilization.
Goldie editorial team — collective profile photo
AuthorGoldie Editorial

Goldie editorial team

Practising aquarists with a combined 30+ years of experience · Biologists and editors, fact-checking against FishBase and Seriously Fish · Every piece is reviewed by a qualified ichthyologist before publication

Goldie Science Board — collective scientific review panel
Reviewed byGoldie Science Board

Scientific board — ichthyologists and veterinarians

Ichthyologists and veterinarians with university degrees · Reference FishBase, Seriously Fish and peer-reviewed literature · Sign every reviewed article with their credentials shown

Sources

  1. FishBase: Lysmata amboinensis · FishBase · 2026-05-22
  2. Seriously Fish: Lysmata amboinensis · Seriously Fish · 2026-05-22