Encyclopaedia
Malagasy Cleaner Shrimp
Lysmata malagasy
A small tropical cleaner shrimp, active scavenger of organic wastes and fish parasites.
- Family
- Hippolytidae
- Origin
- Oceano Indiano occidentale: endemico delle coste del Madagascar.
- Origin
- Tropical oceans and reefsAfrica and MadagascarSouth and Southeast Asia
- Tank use
- Used in 0 tanks
Share
22 °C - 26 °C
8.1 - 8.4
Marine
Spazzino
Alta
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Western Indian Ocean: endemic to the coasts of Madagascar.
Taxonomy: Belongs to the Hippolytidae family. It exhibits a morphology typical of reef-dwelling scavenger invertebrates, growing to a size of 4.0 cm.
Social Behavior: Very peaceful and secretive. It leads a benthic lifestyle, spending much of its time sheltered within crevices or sandy burrows.
Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: The coloration consists of cryptic or distinct markings helpful for camouflage. Sexual dimorphism is not externally prominent.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Tank Setup: Requires a reef aquarium of at least 80.0 liters with stable rockwork. Provide shaded areas and caves to shelter during molting.
Diet and Feeding: Omnivore. Acts as a scavenger, eating leftover foods, micro-crustaceans, organic debris, and sinking pellets.
Water Quality: Reef parameters with pH 8.1-8.4, gravity 1.023-1.025, and low nitrates are critical.
Compatibility and Tankmates: Peaceful. Reef-safe. Do not house with large, aggressive fish species that might consider it prey.
Aquarium Breeding: Simultaneous hermaphrodite. Breeding is complex due to a prolonged planktonic larval phase which rarely survives.
Risks and Diseases: High sensitivity to copper-based medications. Risk of osmotic shock; requires slow drip acclimation.
Invertebrate profile
- Type
- Gambero marino
- Diet
- Onnivoro. Accetta volentieri congelato fine, granulati, alghe e residui organici.
- Ecological role
- Spazzino
- Minimum group
- 1
- Adult size
- 4 cm
- GH
- n/a
- KH
- n/a
- TDS
- n/a
- Copper
- Alta
- Shock sensitivity
- Alta
- Calcium and minerals
- Richiede adeguati livelli di calcio e magnesio per la corretta muta dell'esoscheletro.
- Molting
- Durante la muta si nasconde nelle rocce e non deve essere disturbato.
- Reproduction
- Ermafrodita simultaneo. La schiusa avviene di notte, ma le larve non sopravvivono in comune.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Pacifico con pesci e coralli. Non ospitare con specie marcatamente predatrici.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Other recommended species with similar care requirements and water parameters.
