Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)

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The Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) is one of the most popular and beneficial invertebrates in the saltwater hobby. Known for setting up "cleaning stations" where it picks parasites, dead tissue, and debris off willing fish, this shrimp is both a stunning display animal and a hardworking member of your cleanup crew. Care level is beginner-friendly, and its peaceful temperament makes it an excellent addition to reef and fish-only systems alike.

Looking for more invertebrates? Browse our Invertebrates and Saltwater Supplies.

• Tank Size: 20 gallons minimum
• Temperature: 72–78°F (22–26°C)
• pH: 8.1–8.4
• GH/Salinity: sg 1.023–1.025, dKH 8–12
• Diet: Omnivore — picks parasites and dead skin from fish, also eats frozen mysis, brine shrimp, flake food, and meaty scraps
• Temperament: Peaceful — safe with fish, corals, and other invertebrates
• Max Size: 2–3 inches (5–7.5 cm)
• Copper Sensitivity: Yes — extremely sensitive to copper-based medications. Never use copper treatments in a tank with cleaner shrimp.

Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp are peaceful and reef safe. They coexist well with most community saltwater fish and will actively clean willing tank mates. Keep in pairs or singly — they are simultaneous hermaphrodites and will readily pair up.

Good tank mates: Clownfish, tangs, angels, gobies, blennies, wrasses, corals, and other peaceful invertebrates

Avoid: Hawkfish, lionfish, large predatory wrasses, triggers, and aggressive crabs that may prey on shrimp

Will my fish eat the cleaner shrimp?
Most reef-safe community fish will not harm cleaner shrimp. Avoid housing them with hawkfish, lionfish, triggers, or large predatory species that may see the shrimp as food.

Can I use copper medications with cleaner shrimp in my tank?
No. Cleaner shrimp are extremely sensitive to copper. If you need to treat fish with copper-based medication, move the fish to a separate quarantine tank for treatment.

How many cleaner shrimp can I keep together?
You can keep them singly or in pairs. In larger tanks (75+ gallons), multiple cleaner shrimp can coexist peacefully. They are simultaneous hermaphrodites, so any two individuals can form a breeding pair.

Why does my cleaner shrimp keep molting?
Molting is normal and healthy — it’s how shrimp grow. Ensure proper iodine supplementation and stable water parameters to support healthy molts. Leave the molt in the tank; the shrimp will often eat it to reclaim minerals.