Skunk Cleaner Shrimp

Lysmata amboinensis

Runs a spa for fish: it picks parasites off tank mates – even from inside a grouper's mouth. Keeps disease away.

A peaceful saltwater shrimp that grows to 6 cm, lives near the bottom and needs 24–28 °C, pH 8.0–8.4 and an aquarium of at least 40 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Saltwater

Temperature

24–28 °C (75–82 °F)

pH

8.0–8.4

Adult size

6 cm (2.4 in)

Aquarium

40 L or bigger (11 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Bottom

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Indo-Pacific cleaning stations

Good to know

• Cleaner. Picks parasites off other fish – lowers disease in the tank.
• Bottom crawler. Walks along the substrate.

Tank mates

Good company: Banggai Cardinalfish, Blue-Leg Hermit Crab, Coral Beauty, Firefish Goby, Green Chromis, Ocellaris Clownfish, Peppermint Angelfish, Royal Gramma, Seahorse, Yellowtail Damselfish.

Eaten by: Clown Triggerfish, Flame Hawkfish, Golden Dwarf Moray, Lantern Anglerfish, Lionfish, Peacock Mantis Shrimp, Porcupine Puffer, Psychedelic Frogfish, Six-Line Wrasse, Snowflake Moray.

It gets along with every other species that doesn't eat it.

Colours

• Classic uncommon
• Blood Red Fire Shrimp rare

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.