Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debelius) Care Guide

A stunningly vivid blood-red shrimp with bright white antennae and walking legs, often considered the most beautiful marine shrimp. Shy and tends to hide in caves and overhangs.

Overview

Lysmata debelius is a species in the family Lysmatidae. A stunningly vivid blood-red shrimp with bright white antennae and walking legs, often considered the most beautiful marine shrimp. Shy and tends to hide in caves and overhangs. Acts as a cleaner, picking parasites from fish. May be kept singly or in pairs.

Taxonomy

Family: Lysmatidae
Genus: Lysmata
Scientific name: Lysmata debelius
Other names: Blood Red Shrimp, Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp
Origin: Indo-Pacific

Habitat

Lysmata debelius, a deep-red cleaner shrimp from coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific, where it shelters in caves and overhangs by day. It removes parasites and dead tissue from fish at cleaning stations and is reef-safe.

Tank requirements

Minimum tank volume: 80 L
Temperature: 24-27 °C
pH: 8.1-8.4
Salinity: SG 1.024-1.026
KH: 8-12 dKH
Water flow: moderate
Adult size: 4-6 cm
Lifespan: 2-5 years
Difficulty: intermediate

Diet

Classified as omnivore. Recommended feeding frequency: 1x daily. In captivity, offer a varied diet appropriate to the species — quality prepared foods supplemented with frozen or live items of suitable size.

Compatibility

Temperament: peaceful
Position in tank: bottom
Compatible tank mates: Clownfish, Blue Chromis, Firefish Goby, Cleaner Shrimp
Avoid with: Triggerfish, Large Wrasses, Hawkfish

Reef compatibility

Generally classified as reef-safe: does not feed on stony or soft corals, tridacnid clams or ornamental shrimps under normal conditions.