Lysmata Amboinensis

Scientific name: Lysmata Amboinensis.
Common name: Cleaner shrimp.

• Order: decadopods
• Family: Hippolytidae

Biotope : they usually live in rocky areas of the coral reef, it is easy to find in small caves in shallow waters deep and close to fine sand with a large number of microorganisms

Distribution : its most common habitat is found throughout the Indo-Pacific from the Red Sea region and Zanzibar to Hawaii and Japan to Australia and New Zealand.

Shape: It has a segmented cylindrical body, with a kind of caudal tail with several layers, it has a kind of horn that comes out from behind the eyes, It has six long and thin legs, antennae, two arms and two claws.

Coloring: its predominant color is white with very black eyes and two red lines that cross the entire body from the tail to the beginning of the head, the belly usually ranges in shades between white, beige and yellow

Size: they usually measure between 6 and 7 cm

Differences sexual: there are no differences since they are hermaphrodites, but if at least two are needed for reproduction, since they cannot be self-fertilized.

Aquarium: they can be kept in any aquarium, but it is important that have a good amount of sand for food and good hiding places with rocks appropriate to the coral reef.


Temperature: between 20º and 27º C


Water: PH between 8.1 and 8.4, and KH between 8-12º. Share the typical requirements of a coral reef

Decoration: what is typical of a coral reef, stones, corals and very importantly, good hiding places and caves in the rocks

Food: They are omnivorous, they eat everything, they will feed on parasites and bacteria from other fish and also on food remains and detritus, they can be provided with granules and flaked food or pieces of shrimp or fish, also frozen food They are good excavators and efficiently collect food remains, being beneficial for the system.

Behavior: They are usually totally harmless and peaceful, they can be kept in small groups. They go well with other aquarium residents by providing cleaning services. they also look for food debris throughout the aquarium thus reducing nitrate peaks

Reproduction: reproduction in aquariums is possible and it is not relatively difficult to do so, they are hermaphrodite, less than two individuals for reproduction to occur. Although each specimen is capable of producing eggs and sperm, each uses its sperm to fertilize the eggs of another and is unable to self-fertilize, thus favoring genetic variability.

Observations: is very important for the maintenance of our aquariums, due to its great cleaning contribution as well as being very beautiful and colorful specimens, being very advantageous for our mini ecosystem.