SeafanEmergencies

Shrimp

Skunk cleaner shrimp

Lysmata amboinensis

Also sold as Scarlet cleaner

Skunk cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis)
Photo: Хомелка, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Group
Shrimp
Care level
Beginner
With corals
Reef safe

What does the skunk cleaner shrimp do in a reef tank?

Scavenges; picks parasites and dead tissue from fish typical, check

With corals: Yes

How many should you keep?

No ratio in sources; often kept singly or in pairs

One US gallon is 3.785 litres and one UK gallon is 4.546 litres, so a "per gallon" rule depends on whose gallon it means.

What can go wrong?

Copper medication kills it even at low levels; eaten by hawkfish, lionfish, some wrasses and triggers; moults every 3 to 6 weeks and is vulnerable for 1 to 2 days typical, check

Which tankmates are risky?

Fish

Fish that may eat or harass it.

Avoid together (7)

  • Royal dottybackRoyal dottyback eats ornamental shrimp such as the skunk cleaner shrimp.
  • Neon dottybackNeon dottyback eats ornamental shrimp such as the skunk cleaner shrimp.
  • Yellow coris wrasseYellow coris wrasse eats ornamental shrimp such as the skunk cleaner shrimp.
  • Melanurus wrasseMelanurus wrasse eats ornamental shrimp such as the skunk cleaner shrimp.
  • Flame hawkfishFlame hawkfish eats ornamental shrimp such as the skunk cleaner shrimp.
  • Longnose hawkfishLongnose hawkfish eats ornamental shrimp such as the skunk cleaner shrimp.
  • Falco hawkfishFalco hawkfish eats ornamental shrimp such as the skunk cleaner shrimp.

Take care (8)

  • Yellow watchman gobyYellow watchman goby may eat very small shrimp; adult skunk cleaner shrimps are usually safe.
  • Orange spotted gobyOrange spotted goby may eat very small shrimp; adult skunk cleaner shrimps are usually safe.
  • Orchid dottybackOrchid dottyback may eat very small shrimp; adult skunk cleaner shrimps are usually safe.
  • Magenta dottybackMagenta dottyback may eat very small shrimp; adult skunk cleaner shrimps are usually safe.
  • Pyjama cardinalfishPyjama cardinalfish may eat very small shrimp; adult skunk cleaner shrimps are usually safe.
  • Six line wrasseSix line wrasse may eat very small shrimp; adult skunk cleaner shrimps are usually safe.
  • Leopard wrasseLeopard wrasse may eat very small shrimp; adult skunk cleaner shrimps are usually safe.
  • Yellow assessorYellow assessor may eat very small shrimp; adult skunk cleaner shrimps are usually safe.

Other invertebrates

Invertebrates it may harm, or that may harm it.

None known.

These checks follow the reasons fish and invertebrates clash: same species or genus, similar shape, mouth size, temperament, food, burrows, tank size and the order they are added. Individual animals differ; every source agrees on that.

Sources

  1. Top Shelf Aquatics skunk cleaner shrimpRead 21 October 2026, search summary only.
  2. Gensou skunk cleaner shrimp guideRead 21 October 2026, search summary only.

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