Fire Shrimp care guide
Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debelius) — minimum tank 80 L, temperature 24-26 °C, pH 8.1-8.4.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debelius) is a marine cleaner shrimp of the family Hippolytidae, listed in the Aquairi knowledge base as an intermediate-level species. Stunning blood-red shrimp with white-spotted body and white legs. Reef-safe cleaner, but more secretive than amboinensis.
Taxonomy
- Family: Hippolytidae
- Genus: Lysmata
- Scientific name: Lysmata debelius
- Common synonyms: Blood Shrimp, Scarlet Cleaner, Blood Red Cleaner
Habitat
Lysmata is a genus of marine shrimp from tropical and subtropical reefs worldwide. Several species act as cleaner shrimp, picking parasites and dead tissue from fish at established cleaning stations, and the genus is notable for protandric simultaneous hermaphroditism. In the Aquairi knowledge base this species is recorded from Indo-Pacific.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 80 L (21.1 US gal)
- Adult size: 5-6 cm
- Temperature: 24-26 °C (75-79 °F)
- pH: 8.1-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- KH: 8-12 °dKH
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.024-1.026
- Lifespan: 2-5 years
Diet
The species is an omnivore. In the wild it scavenges and cleans parasites and dead tissue from fish; in aquaria it accepts meaty frozen foods, pellets and flake, supplemented by detritus it gathers from the rockwork.
Compatibility
The Aquairi knowledge base lists this species as peaceful. Suitable tank mates include Most reef fish. It should be kept away from Hawkfish, Triggerfish, Lionfish. It is reef-safe and may be kept in pairs, since members are simultaneous hermaphrodites.
Breeding
Breeding requires a planktonic larval stage, generally in brackish or marine water, which makes captive reproduction very difficult and rarely achieved in home aquaria.
Breeding the Fire Shrimp (Lysmata debelius)
Overview
Lysmata debelius is an Indo-Pacific cleaner shrimp first described from the Philippines in 1983, growing to about 3 cm. It is more secretive than L. amboinensis but follows the same reproductive pattern, and captive larval observations exist, so breeding attempts are documented even if difficult.
Sexing
The species is hermaphroditic, so any two individuals may mate and reciprocally fertilise. There is no need to identify males and females; a compatible pair forms simply by housing two settled adults together in a stable reef.
Conditioning
Steady reef conditions (about 24–26 °C, pH 8.1–8.4) with regular feeding sustain the breeding cycle. Established pairs reproduce on a recurring schedule rather than seasonally.
Spawning & Berried Females
The hatching, moulting and copulation cycle is described as identical to that of L. wurdemanni, with each pair yielding weekly batches of zoea. The egg-carrying partner broods the clutch on its pleopods after each post-moult mating.
Larval Care
The hatched larvae are planktonic and pass through a long series of zoeal stages before settling. Rearing notes for fire-shrimp larvae emphasise live moving prey: rotifers and Artemia in the first week alongside co-cultured phytoplankton, then enriched Artemia and pureed seafoods as larvae grow.
Common Challenges
As with other Lysmata, the extended planktonic phase causes heavy larval losses, and the secretive adults may breed unnoticed in a busy reef. Sustaining clean live-food cultures and a dedicated larval vessel for the full development period is the limiting factor.