Skunk Cleaner Shrimp | The Reef’s Boldest Cleaner (Care & Info)

Jacques, is that you? Oui, it is! Nemo’s cleaner friend also happens to be one of the most popular and beginner-proof invertebrates in the saltwater aquarium hobby. But what do skunk cleaner shrimp actually need to thrive? Do they really make good janitors? And are they reef safe? Let’s find out!

Skunk cleaner shrimp description & natural habitat

Description

One of those instantly recognizable marine species, the skunk cleaner shrimp does indeed sport a white skunk stripe across its bright red back. The rest of its body, which can reach a chunky 2.5″ in length, is a pale yellow in color. The long antennae and front legs are the exception: these are bright white to signal to reef fish that this is a cleaner species.

During “working hours”, cleaner shrimp congregate in certain accessible spots on the reef known as cleaning stations. When fish approach, the shrimp perform a special rocking dance, flash their antennae, and — if the potential client is a predator — waggle their white front legs to make extra sure their intent is clear.

Even fish that normally wouldn’t think twice about gobbling up a tasty crustacean will almost always peacefully approach skunk cleaner shrimp. Both species benefit from this symbiosis, with the shrimp earning its lunch (parasites and damaged scales) and the fish enjoying a free spa treatment.

Will the real…

As so often happens in the aquarium, the species sold as Lysmata amboinensis is actually two shrimp in a trench coat: the Pacific L. amboinensis and a very visually similar but less common species from the Atlantic, known as L. grabhami. Their care requirements are identical, but you can tell them apart by looking at their tails (see the graphic below).

Taxonomists were unsure of what to do with these two (and the genus Lysmata as a whole, as we also discuss in our peppermint shrimp care guide) for the longest time. The two skunk cleaner shrimp were considered one and the same for a good while, but this was later backtracked. They really are two different species, though they’re very closely related.

Natural habitat

We often think of our favorite reef species as being exclusively tropical, but skunk cleaner shrimp don’t mind the slightly chillier subtropics. The “true” skunk cleaner shrimp, whose scientific name references the Indonesian island of Ambon, has a wide natural distribution in the Indo-Pacific. It can be found as far north as Japan’s Honsu Island. Its grabhami cousin covers the Atlantic, including the cooler Macaronesian Archipelago.

Critters with wide natural distributions are generally not very picky about their exact habitat. Skunk cleaner shrimp are no exception; they can be found in caves and crevices on coral reefs and rocky reefs alike, from the shallows down to 130 ft or so.

As long as there are handy ledges to serve as cleaning platforms, the shrimp will be happy!

Skunk cleaner shrimp aquarium

As we mentioned earlier, skunk cleaner shrimp aren’t exclusive to the tropics. Reef-keeping sources consistently mention a temperature range of around 71–82°F, but research shows they’re actually much more flexible than that. Unheated marine tanks aren’t very popular, but if you do want to try one, these shrimp would make a great addition!

Anyway, skunk cleaner shrimp are flexible and will do fine in almost any type of marine system. Just make sure they’ve got space to move around — their antennae are two to three times the length of their bodies. Twenty gallons (long) should be considered the minimum, though more is usually better.

In terms of decor, skunk cleaners don’t ask for much. All they need is a few caves or crevices where they can hide during the day and after molting.

Tip: All shrimp are sensitive to low water quality and sudden parameter swings. You should only introduce skunk cleaners in stable, mature aquariums, taking the time to (drip) acclimate them.

Skunk cleaner shrimp compatibility

The most important thing to keep in mind when it comes to finding the right tankmates for your skunk cleaner shrimp is that their special cleaner status doesn’t quite apply in the aquarium. In captivity, predatory fish like lionfish, morays, hawkfish and large wrasses are more likely to eat the shrimp than to request a spa session.

A peaceful community with small to medium-sized tankmates will work best for your skunk cleaner shrimp. You can try gobies, blennies, anemonefish, chromis, cardinals, and other well-behaved reef species. Larger options like yellow tangs may actually visit the shrimp to request servicing, allowing you to observe this fascinating reef symbiosis right in your own home.

As for their own kind, skunk cleaners are usually found in pairs in the wild. Although you can keep yours alone, they do appreciate a partner. Any two shrimp can pair up — as we’ll see in the section on breeding, there’s no need to check what’s between their legs before buying.

Tip: Some skunk cleaner shrimp keepers report their critters going carnivorous, attacking and eating other small invertebrates (hermits, snails). Many others experience no issues whatsoever. Still, if you notice any sudden losses, maybe don’t eliminate these shrimp from the suspect list too quickly.

Are skunk cleaner shrimp reef safe?

If you just have a few fast-growing softies and sturdy LPS, then yes, skunk cleaner shrimp are reef safe. They aren’t known for having a taste for sessile invertebrates.

This being said, we wouldn’t add these shrimp to a tank that contains fragile or particularly prized corals. They’re incredibly food-focused and have no qualms about stealing morsels right from a coral’s (or anemone’s) mouth, nor about trampling all over it to get to the best bits the fastest.

Skunk cleaner shrimp diet

The “cleaner” part in this species’ name refers to its habit of cleaning fish, not our tanks, but that doesn’t mean they won’t perform janitorial duties. Their diet in the wild consists largely of fish parasites and skin, and they might offer cleaning services in the aquarium as well. Given that our tanks simply don’t offer them the clientele they need, however, they’ll also scavenge for leftover food and other edible morsels.

In very large systems, you may not need to feed your skunk cleaner shrimp much; in smaller set-ups, you should regularly drop some food near their hides. They’re omnivorous and not picky at all, so you can offer whatever meal of the day you’re giving the rest of the tank.

Technically, even you can be a source of food for a skunk cleaner shrimp: if you stick your hand into the tank, it’ll soon come running to offer a cleaning session.

Breeding skunk cleaner shrimp

If you’re familiar with reef fish reproduction, you’ll know they don’t take the concept of male vs. female very seriously. Shenanigans like sex switches and hermaphroditism are much rarer in shrimp than in fish. Skunk cleaners are one of the few who do partake: they start out male, but soon start functioning as both male and female. This is called protandric simultaneous hermaphroditism (though feel free to forget that term).

You’d think that these shrimp being both male and female at the same time would make them easier to breed, but nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, it has been done, both by professional aquaculture companies and by the occasional hobbyist. But unfortunately, the hassle still far outweighs the meager yield, which is why most skunk cleaner shrimp offered for sale are still wild-caught.

The problem with skunk cleaners is the same we run into with all marine shrimp. They hatch as tiny, fragile larvae (known as zoea) and need to pass through a whopping fourteen different stages before they finally qualify as real shrimp. Even in the wild, the vast majority never makes it.

If you’d like to try your hand at breeding your skunk cleaner shrimp, all you need is a healthy pair; the shrimp functioning as the female will regularly become “berried”. Per the latest research, you’re best off raising the larvae in a kreisel-type set-up rather than a normal aquarium or tub.

A 2021 paper suggests that starting rotifers and microalgae within 24 hours and then adding enriched Artemia nauplii by day three could yield acceptable survival rates, though this experiment ended at the 30-day mark.

Conclusion