Striped Cleaner Shrimp

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widely distributed in the tropical Indo-Pacific, from East Africa and the Red Sea to Japan, the Philippines, and New Zealand. Settles on shallow reef flats and tide pools.

Taxonomy: Classified under the family Lysmatidae. Features a laterally compressed body, relatively small and compact, reaching about 3-4 cm in length. Armed with a serrated rostrum.

Social Behavior: Peaceful, shy, and mostly crepuscular or nocturnal. Spends the daytime resting in dark cracks of the rockwork, actively foraging at night.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Translucent body with pinkish, orange, or reddish hues and thin dark longitudinal stripes. Transparent legs. Concurrent hermaphrodite: mature individuals possess functional male and female reproductive systems.

Tank Setup: Suitable for tanks of 10 gallons or larger. Live rock is essential to provide shaded crevices and caves where the shrimp can hide during bright daylight hours.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous. Often introduced to control Aiptasia anemone outbreaks. Will feed on detritus, leftover food flakes or pellets, frozen mysis, and brine shrimp.

Water Quality: Standard marine parameters: SG 1.020-1.025, pH 8.1-8.4, temperature 22-28°C. Very sensitive to sudden salinity drops. Copper must be strictly avoided.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Great for reef community aquariums. Avoid housing with large predatory species (e.g. lionfish, hawkfish, groupers, large crabs). Can be kept in small groups.

Aquarium Breeding: Two shrimps fertilize each other and carry eggs under their abdomen. Planktonic larval stages are complex and do not survive standard home aquarium filtration.

Risks and Diseases: Low iodine and calcium can lead to failed or incomplete molting. High risk of predation in the immediate post-molting phase when the shell is soft.