Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp

Lysmata amboinensis, a type of cleaner shrimp commonly known as the Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp or Pacific Cleaner Shrimp, plays a crucial role in coral reef ecosystems. These shrimp are primarily found in tropical regions, including the 🌊 Red Sea and the 🌊 Indo-Pacific Ocean, and typically inhabit caves or reef ledges at depths of 5 to 40 meters (16 to 131 feet). Their prominence in the marine aquarium trade is due to their striking appearance—adults can grow up to 5 to 6 centimeters (2.0 to 2.4 inches) long and are known for their long white antennae and pale bodies marked by scarlet and white bands.

Functionally, these shrimp are omnivorous, consuming parasites and dead tissue from fish. This symbiotic cleaning behavior makes them beneficial to both the shrimp and their client fish, often improving the health of the fish by removing parasites and aiding in wound healing. The shrimp are usually seen performing a distinctive side-to-side rocking dance at cleaning stations on the reef to signal their services to fish.

Lysmata amboinensis is unique among decapod crustaceans because of its reproductive strategy. Initially male, these shrimp eventually become hermaphrodites, engaging in a mating ritual where they alternate roles as male and female with their partners. In captivity, these shrimp are known to establish socially monogamous pairs and exhibit aggression toward other shrimp if more than two are kept together.

The lifecycle of L. amboinensis involves a series of developmental stages, starting from eggs that hatch into larvae called nauplii. These then transform into zoeae during a free-floating planktonic phase before settling into a more mature form. Typically, shrimp brood between 200 to 500 eggs, which hatch into larvae measuring 3 to 4 millimeters (0.12 to 0.16 inches) long.

In addition to their ecological role, L. amboinensis has been considered for use in aquaculture due to their cleaning abilities. First described by Johannes Govertus de Man in 1888, the species has since been recognized as distinct from other similar shrimp varieties and continues to be a popular choice for both public and home aquaria.