Mediterranean Cleaner Shrimp care guide
Mediterranean Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata seticaudata) — minimum tank 60 L, temperature 18-24 °C, pH 8-8.4.
Overview
Mediterranean Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata seticaudata) is a marine cleaner shrimp of the family Hippolytidae, listed in the Aquairi knowledge base as an intermediate-level species. Mediterranean cleaner shrimp, smaller than amboinensis with reddish body. Ideal for cooler temperate marine tanks.
Taxonomy
- Family: Hippolytidae
- Genus: Lysmata
- Scientific name: Lysmata seticaudata
- Common synonyms: Monaco 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 Mediterranean Sea, Eastern Atlantic.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 60 L (15.9 US gal)
- Adult size: 3-5 cm
- Temperature: 18-24 °C (64-75 °F)
- pH: 8-8.4
- GH: 8-12 °dGH
- KH: 8-12 °dKH
- Salinity (specific gravity): 1.024-1.026
- Lifespan: 1-3 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 Mediterranean fish, Cool reef fish. It should be kept away from Predatory fish. 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.