Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
The Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis), known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp, Pacific Cleaner Shrimp or Cleaner Shrimp, is a marine decapod crustacean species that is found throughout the Indo-West Pacific and parts of the tropical Atlantic Ocean.
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp are normally found among the coral reefs and rocky crevices of their range at depths from the low intertidal zone to over 130 feet where they often set up distinct “cleaning stations.”
Lysmata amboinensis are not natural diggers. They are constantly on the move and are active during both the day and night, though they tend to retreat into darker crevices if bright lights are suddenly turned on. Substantial numbers of Skunk Cleaner Shrimp can typically be found on the undersides of coral ledges or deep inside caves that provide the Cleaner Shrimp a safe refuge from pelagic predators that might snap them up in open water.
Although Skunk Cleaner Shrimp are frequently found grouped together in large numbers, they do not form coordinated, tightly-knit schools. Instead, they are a docile, non-aggressive species that is highly tolerant of conspecifics, allowing them to live peacefully side-by-side in pairs or small groups.
Lysmata amboinensis are small marine crustaceans that seldom exceed 2 inches in body length (excluding their long antennae).
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
True Skunk Cleaner Shrimp have a vibrantly colored bright amber or yellow body with a distinct, bold red stripe down the back, split down the center by a stark white line—hence the name “Skunk Cleaner.” They possess three pairs of long, bright white antennae that they wave continuously to signal fish that their cleaning services are open for business.
Skunk Cleaner shrimp are protandric simultaneous hermaphrodites. They all start life as males, but as they grow, they develop functioning female reproductive organs while still retaining their male reproductive organs. There is no external sexual dimorphism to distinguish individuals.
Unlike many marine creatures that can retreat into a heavy shell, the Skunk Cleaner Shrimp relies on its speed, agility, and unique symbiotic relationship with predators for defense. Instead of being eaten, they rely on their reputation as a doctor of the reef. Their top speed is quite fast when they use their pleopods (swimmerets) to flick backward into a cave when threatened.
The Skunk Cleaner Shrimp is completely reef safe and is best housed in a well-established reef aquarium of at least 10 gallon capacity with plenty of mature live rock arranged into caves, overhangs, and hiding places, and sufficient room for them to roam and look for clients. The shrimp are too small to damage any decor in a reef tank and will not bother decorative clams or corals, though they may occasionally step on them to steal a piece of food.
Cleaner Shrimp are non-aggressive, docile by nature, and do well in a FOWLR tank with peaceful tank mates like small, non-carnivorous fish. Good tankmates include Firefish, Gobies, Blennies, Clownfish, Cardinalfish, and peaceful snails like Cerith or Trochus snails. Avoid keeping them with large and/or aggressive carnivorous fish like Lionfish, Groupers, Hawkfish, and large Triggers, and aggressive predatory crabs that will view the shrimp as a meal.
Like other cleanup crew members, the Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) has a ravenous appetite for parasites and dead tissue, which makes them excellent candidates for a tank health crew.
In the aquarium environment, they are superb scavengers that thrive on fish parasites (like marine ich), dead skin, debris, and other fish waste.
The Cleaner Shrimp is relatively easy to keep compared to other cold-water species, provided acclimation is done carefully. Lysmata amboinensis are extremely sensitive to changes in water values, especially sudden shifts in salinity and copper medications (which are lethal to them). In addition to stable water quality, they require a constant food source, a stable tropical water temperature between 72–78°F, and adequate iodine levels to support their regular molting process. An excellent filtration system and protein skimmer are recommended to keep this species thriving.
Although Skunk Cleaner Shrimp frequently produce eggs in the home aquarium, they do not generally yield surviving offspring, mainly due to their long, complex, larval stages. Because they are simultaneous hermaphrodites, any two mature individuals can mate. One shrimp will molt, and the other will fertilize its eggs shortly after.
The shrimp carries the fertilized eggs under its abdomen (attached to the pleopods) for roughly 10 to 14 days until they turn a greenish hue and hatch. The tiny larvae are released into the water column after dark.
In an aquarium, the release of these microscopic larvae triggers a temporary feeding response from both fish and filter-feeding corals, which treat the free-swimming plankton as a nutritious meal long before they can metamorphose into crawling juveniles.
In their natural environment, the Skunk Cleaner Shrimp feeds on tissue parasites, mucus, and dead skin scraped from “client” fish, alongside general detrital elements. Their primary food is parasites like ciliates, but they also eat organic debris on the reef.
In an established aquarium environment, they feed on the parasites of their tankmates along with any leftover shrimp or fish foods, such as flakes, pellets, algae wafers, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, and chopped frozen foods. They are notoriously bold feeders and will happily swim to the surface to take food right out of the aquarist’s hand.
The Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) is a very common saltwater species that can be purchased from online retailers, local fish stores, and wholesalers at reasonable prices. They are often sold online to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as foundational members of “cleanup crews” and biological parasite control for established reef tanks.
Although captive-bred individuals are occasionally available, most specimens sold are wild caught. Current retail prices for the Skunk Cleaner Shrimp generally range between $35.99 to over $75.99, depending on the sizing, variant, area of collection, and vendor.
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons
Aquarium Type: Established Reef or FOWLR
Care Level: Easy to Moderate
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Semi-Hardy (Sensitive to acclimation and copper)
Water Conditions: 72–78°F, dKH 8 to 12, pH 8.1–8.4, sg 1.023–1.025
Max. Size: 2″ (body length)
Color Form: Amber, Red, White
Diet: Omnivore/scavenger
Compatibility: Reef Compatible
Origin: Indo-West Pacific, Tropical Atlantic
Family: Lysmatidae
Lifespan: 2 – 5 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate
