Fire Shrimp

Care at a glance

Overview

A striking, generally peaceful cleaner shrimp best kept singly in smaller tanks, since two fire shrimp can squabble and it can also scrap with other cleaner shrimp species. It is reef safe with corals and other inverts. If kept underfed it has occasionally been reported to pick at LPS or SPS polyps, so feed it well. Keep away from shrimp-eating predators.

In the wild

An Indo-Pacific reef species that is naturally shy and stays tucked into caves, ledges, and shaded rockwork, extending its long white antennae into open water. In the aquarium it needs plenty of live rock with dark caves and overhangs so it feels secure enough to come out. It is more retiring than the skunk cleaner and often seen only at feeding time until it settles in.

Good to know

Lysmata debelius is a simultaneous hermaphrodite like its relatives. Despite its deep blood-red body and bright white legs and antennae acting as a visual cleaning signal, it cleans fish less reliably than L. amboinensis. Captive breeding is difficult because of a long, demanding planktonic larval phase.

Did you know

Its intense blood-red coloring with crisp white spots and antennae makes it one of the most sought-after ornamental shrimp, and it tends to hide, so spotting it out on the rock feels like a small reward.

Related species

• 

  Skunk Cleaner Shrimp

  Lysmata amboinensis

  2.4 in (6 cm)20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Peppermint Shrimp

  Lysmata wurdemanni

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)

• 

  Camel / Dancing Shrimp

  Rhynchocinetes durbanensis

  2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Harlequin Shrimp

  Hymenocera picta

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Marble Shrimp

  Saron marmoratus

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)

• 

  Tiger Pistol Shrimp

  Alpheus bellulus

  2 in (5 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)