Encyclopaedia
First Peppermint Shrimp
Lysmata prima
An Asian peppermint shrimp, widely used in reef keeping to control Aiptasia anemone outbreaks.
- Family
- Hippolytidae
- Origin
- Oceano Pacifico occidentale: dal Giappone meridionale fino alle coste di Taiwan.
- Origin
- Tropical oceans and reefsEast 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 Pacific Ocean: southern Japan to the coasts of Taiwan.
Taxonomy: Belongs to the Hippolytidae family. It exhibits a morphology typical of reef-dwelling scavenger invertebrates, growing to a size of 4.5 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. Ciba residui, Aiptasia di taglia piccola, congelato fine e mangime secco.
- Ecological role
- Spazzino
- Minimum group
- 1
- Adult size
- 4.5 cm
- GH
- n/a
- KH
- n/a
- TDS
- n/a
- Copper
- Alta
- Shock sensitivity
- Alta
- Calcium and minerals
- Mantenere stabile la durezza carbonatica e il calcio per favorire lo sviluppo del guscio.
- Molting
- Muta ogni poche settimane. Durante questa fase sensibile si ritira nei fori delle rocce.
- Reproduction
- Ermafrodita simultaneo. Produce larve planctoniche difficilissime da nutrire.
- Compatibility & tankmates
- Reef-safe con coralli. Evitare la convivenza con grossi pesci predatori di fondo.
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.
