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Slender-billed cleaner shrimp

Lysmata gracilirostris

An Indo-Pacific marine shrimp characterized by an exceptionally long and thin rostrum. It is a very active scavenger and occasional fish cleaner shrimp.

Taxonomy

Class:Malacostraca

Order:Decapoda

Family:Lysmatidae

Genus:Lysmata

Species:Lysmata gracilirostris

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Water Temperature

22 - 28 °C

pH Value

8.1 - 8.4

Water type

Marine

Invertebrate type

Marine shrimp

Adult size

5 cm

Minimum group

>= 1

8 - 12 dKH

Ecological role

Cleaner

Species description

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Lysmata gracilirostris is widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. It inhabits coral reefs, rocky barriers, and shallow seagrass beds, from a few meters down to about 30 meters deep. It finds shelter inside crevices, caves, and under live rock overhangs, where it forms small colonies for protection from predators.

Taxonomy: It belongs to the class Malacostraca, order Decapoda, infraorder Caridea, family Lysmatidae, and genus Lysmata. It is clearly distinguished from other Lysmata species (such as L. amboinensis or L. wurdemanni) by its body proportions and the distinct length of its rostrum. Genetic studies confirm its position within the group of Indo-Pacific cleaner shrimps.

Social Behavior: It has mainly crepuscular and nocturnal habits, although it becomes active during the day if food is introduced into the tank. It shows a gregarious tendency and prefers to live in small groups. It occasionally displays cleaner shrimp behavior, setting up cleaning stations to remove external parasites and necrotic tissue from fish skin.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The body is semi-transparent with a yellowish or reddish base coloration, crossed by thin red or orange longitudinal stripes. The rostrum is extremely long, thin, and pointed upwards. Like many members of the genus Lysmata, this species is a simultaneous hermaphrodite: adult specimens possess both male and female functioning reproductive organs at the same time.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Tank Setup: It requires a mature marine aquarium of at least 40-50 liters for a single specimen or a small group. It is essential to provide a rich arrangement of live rocks with crevices, cracks, and small caves where the shrimp can hide during the day and during molting. The substrate can be sandy or composed of crushed coral.

Diet and Feeding: It is an opportunistic omnivore and scavenger. In the aquarium, it actively feeds on leftover fish food, organic debris, and biofilm. The diet must be supplemented with small sinking pellets for crustaceans, frozen foods (such as mysis, brine shrimp, and chopped krill), and small pieces of shrimp or fish meat. It helps keep the bottom clean.

Water Quality: It requires stable and well-balanced marine parameters. Temperature: 24-26°C, pH: 8.1-8.4, specific gravity: 1.023-1.025, KH: 8-12. It is extremely sensitive to accumulations of nitrates and phosphates, which can compromise molting. It is essential to maintain adequate iodine levels to facilitate the formation of the new exoskeleton. Copper is highly lethal.

Compatibility and Tankmates: It is a peaceful and reef-safe species that does not harm corals or other sessile invertebrates. It can coexist with small, quiet reef fish. Absolutely avoid cohabitation with predatory fish such as large wrasses, hawkfishes, pufferfishes, lionfishes, and large predatory crabs that would consider it an easy meal.

Aquarium Breeding: Despite being simultaneous hermaphrodites, they require mating with another individual for cross-fertilization. The female broods the greenish eggs under her abdomen until hatching. The released larvae are planktonic and go through numerous very delicate larval stages; their rearing in the aquarium is extremely complex and requires dedicated sterile tanks.

Risks and Diseases: The greatest risk occurs during the molting process (ecdysis), a period when the shrimp is soft and defenseless and needs secure hiding places to avoid being attacked. Iodine deficiencies or sudden salinity shifts during water changes can cause failed molts with lethal consequences.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Lysmata gracilirostris is widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. It inhabits coral reefs, rocky barriers, and shallow seagrass beds, from a few meters down to about 30 meters deep. It finds shelter inside crevices, caves, and under live rock overhangs, where it forms small colonies for protection from predators.

Origin

Cosmopolitan or introducedTropical oceans and reefs

Invertebrate profile

Diet: Omnivore
Ecological role: Cleaner
Shock sensitivity: High
Calcium and minerals: Medium
Molting: Shell growth
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.

Anchisteus Cleaner Shrimp

Lysmata anchisteus

Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Origin

Invertebrate profile

Image gallery

Related species

Variants and close relatives

Anchisteus Cleaner Shrimp

Boggess' Peppermint Shrimp

Kuekenthal's cleaner shrimp

Lined Shrimp

Peppermint Shrimp var. multiscissa

Splendid Cleaner Shrimp

Anker's Cleaner Shrimp

Grabham's cleaner shrimp

Lipke's Cleaner Shrimp

Ternate cleaner shrimp

Bahia Cleaner Shrimp

Lysmata prima shrimp

Udo's Peppermint Shrimp

Nayarit Peppermint Shrimp

Rathbun's Peppermint Shrimp

Fire cleaner shrimp

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Caulerpa taxifolia

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Dead man fingers algae

Halimeda macroalgae

Red gracilaria

Sea lettuce

Allen's blenny

Ambon Chromis

Axelrod's blenny

Black combtooth blenny

Black-axil Chromis

Similar care

Silver-spotted cleaner shrimp

Moreland's Cleaner Shrimp

Malagasy cleaner shrimp

Three-spined Peppermint Shrimp

Fine-striped Pistol Shrimp

Marble Shrimp

Saron Shrimp

Sharp-carinated Snapping Shrimp

Peppermint shrimp

Skunk cleaner shrimp

Armed Snapping Shrimp

Bouvier's snapping shrimp

Blue-legged Boxer Shrimp

Bluntclaw snapping shrimp

Crested snapping shrimp

Hammer Snapping Shrimp