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Silver-spotted cleaner shrimp

Lysmata argentopunctata

A cryptic and peaceful marine shrimp displaying delicate silver spots over a reddish-brown body. It acts as an occasional cleaner for reef aquarium fish.

Taxonomy

Class:Malacostraca

Order:Decapoda

Family:Lysmatidae

Genus:Lysmata

Species:Lysmata argentopunctata

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Water Temperature

22 - 26 °C

pH Value

8.1 - 8.4

Water type

Marine

Invertebrate type

Marine shrimp

Adult size

4.5 cm

Minimum group

>= 1

Ecological role

Cleaner

Species description

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Lysmata argentopunctata is native to the Western Indo-Pacific region. It inhabits tropical and temperate rocky and coral reefs, coastal reefs, and tide pools at depths of 1 to 20 meters. It is a highly cryptic species that hides deep inside rocky crevices and dark caves to avoid direct sunlight and predators.

Taxonomy: Belongs to the family Lysmatidae and the genus Lysmata. Described by Wicksten in 2000, it shares the reproductive strategy of protandric simultaneous hermaphroditism characteristic of its genus. Individuals function first as males and later transition into simultaneous hermaphrodites with both sexes.

Social Behavior: Peaceful, shy, and mostly nocturnal. During daylight hours, it remains tucked away in the shadows of the rockwork, typically only exposing its long antennae. It becomes active at night, scanning the aquarium for food. It displays facultative cleaning behaviors, occasionally cleaning ectoparasites from fish.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The body features a rich reddish-brown or deep red base color, adorned with numerous tiny, reflective silver or white spots distributed across the carapace and abdomen. Antennae are whitish-red. Because adult specimens are simultaneous hermaphrodites, there is no visible external sexual dimorphism.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Tank Setup: Requires an established marine or reef aquarium of at least 80-100 liters (approx. 20-25 gallons). The aquascape must include plenty of live rock arranged to create deep caves, overhangs, and shaded areas. Moderate lighting or sunset effects will encourage the shrimp to venture out more often.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous scavenger and detritivore. In the wild, it feeds on detritus, organic waste, and micro-parasites. In captivity, it readily accepts frozen mysis, brine shrimp, chopped clam, and sinking crustacean pellets. It is best to feed them in the evening when they naturally begin foraging.

Water Quality: Maintain stable marine conditions: temperature 23-26°C (73-79°F), pH 8.1-8.4, and specific gravity 1.023-1.025. Nitrates and phosphates should be kept at minimum levels. Copper-based medications are highly toxic and must never be used. Maintain iodine levels to ensure successful shell molting.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Peaceful and reef-safe. It does not harm corals or other sessile invertebrates. Coexists well with peaceful fish and other non-predatory invertebrates. Do not house with larger, predatory fish such as hawkfish, wrasses, triggerfish, or large crabs, which will eat the shrimp.

Aquarium Breeding: Breeding in home aquariums is extremely difficult. Any two mature individuals can mate and both will carry fertilized eggs under their tails. The larvae are planktonic and pass through multiple delicate stages, making them nearly impossible to raise without specialized plankton foods and rearing tanks.

Risks and Diseases: Prone to molting failure if calcium or iodine levels are depleted, or if heavy metals are present in the water. They are highly sensitive to osmotic shock; slow drip acclimation of at least 1 hour is mandatory when transferring them to a new aquarium.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Lysmata argentopunctata is native to the Western Indo-Pacific region. It inhabits tropical and temperate rocky and coral reefs, coastal reefs, and tide pools at depths of 1 to 20 meters. It is a highly cryptic species that hides deep inside rocky crevices and dark caves to avoid direct sunlight and predators.

Origin

Tropical oceans and reefs

Invertebrate profile

Diet: Omnivore
Ecological role: Cleaner
Shock sensitivity: High
Calcium and minerals: Medium
Molting: Periodic
Reproduction: Oviparous
Compatibility & tankmates: Peaceful

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Bahia Cleaner Shrimp

Lysmata bahia

Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Origin

Invertebrate profile

Image gallery

Related species

Variants and close relatives

Bahia Cleaner Shrimp

Lysmata prima shrimp

Malagasy cleaner shrimp

Three-spined Peppermint Shrimp

Udo's Peppermint Shrimp

Anker's Cleaner Shrimp

Grabham's cleaner shrimp

Lipke's Cleaner Shrimp

Ternate cleaner shrimp

Anchisteus Cleaner Shrimp

Boggess' Peppermint Shrimp

Kuekenthal's cleaner shrimp

Lined Shrimp

Nayarit Peppermint Shrimp

Peppermint Shrimp var. multiscissa

Rathbun's Peppermint Shrimp

Recommended companions

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Black-axil Chromis

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Caulerpa prolifera

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Dead man fingers algae

Grape caulerpa

Halimeda macroalgae

Red gracilaria

Bath's Combtooth Blenny

Blue assessor

Brown Chromis

Tailspot blenny

Allen's blenny

Similar care

Slender-billed cleaner shrimp

Splendid Cleaner Shrimp

Moreland's Cleaner Shrimp

Fire cleaner shrimp

Peppermint shrimp

Skunk cleaner shrimp

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Bouvier's snapping shrimp

Flat-clawed pistol shrimp

Monaco Shrimp

Bigclaw snapping shrimp

Fine-striped Pistol Shrimp

Marble Shrimp

Saron Shrimp

Sharp-carinated Snapping Shrimp

African snapping shrimp