Redline Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) – Myth, Behaviour & Reef Tank Benefits
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Time to read 2 min
The Redline Cleaner Shrimp 🦐
There is a myth about the Redline Cleaner Shrimp and its ability to eradicate white spot (marine ich) from your aquarium. I’m here to clear that up — this is not true.
While it is partially correct that these shrimp will actively clean your fish, picking at parasites and dead tissue, they are not capable of removing enough of the parasite load to completely eradicate the issue.
Instead, what they do extremely well is help relieve irritation and stress on infected fish by removing loose parasites, mucus, and debris. This can improve fish behaviour and comfort, but it is not a treatment or cure for white spot disease.
A Fascinating Natural Behaviour
These shrimp are one of the most beautiful and interesting additions to a reef aquarium.
The relationship between cleaner shrimp and fish is genuinely fascinating to watch. Fish will actively seek out a “cleaning station,” hover in place, and even turn upside down while opening their gills and fins, allowing the shrimp to climb on and inspect them.
Watching a fish calmly sit still while a shrimp performs a full “cleaning pass” is one of the most natural and rewarding behaviours you can observe in a marine tank.
Temperament, Grouping & Compatibility
Redline Cleaner Shrimp are peaceful and generally very easy to keep.
I have successfully kept them in:
- Pairs
- Small groups
- Typically one male to multiple females
However, tank mates must be carefully considered, as they can become prey in the wrong setup.
Potential threats include:
- Large or aggressive wrasses
- Coral banded shrimp (territorial aggression)
- Predatory reef fish
Many smaller wrasses will wait until the shrimp has recently molted and is in its “soft-shell stage.” During this period (roughly the first week after molting), the shrimp’s exoskeleton has not fully hardened, making it extremely vulnerable. Fish don’t even need to swallow them — they can simply peck them repeatedly until death.
Feeding Behaviour & Coral Interaction
Cleaner shrimp are not coral eaters, but they are opportunistic feeders.
If they become hungry, they may:
- Steal food directly from coral mouths
- Compete aggressively during feeding time
- Disrupt coral feeding if food is limited
Over time, this can result in corals not receiving enough nutrition or, in some cases, minor tissue irritation if feeding aggression is high.
Regular feeding helps avoid this behaviour.
Breeding in the Aquarium
One of the most interesting aspects of this species is that they can breed quite readily in captivity.
When kept in stable conditions, they can produce a continuous supply of planktonic larvae. These larvae become part of the natural food chain in the aquarium, feeding corals and filter feeders.
This makes them not only a cleaner species, but also a contributor to overall reef tank biodiversity.
Final Thoughts
The Redline Cleaner Shrimp is a stunning and highly beneficial addition to marine aquariums. While it is often misunderstood as a “white spot cure,” its true value lies in:
- Natural fish cleaning behaviour
- Stress reduction for fish
- Waste scavenging
- Fascinating interaction with reef fish
- Adding life and movement to the aquarium
Just be mindful of tank mates and molting vulnerability, and they will thrive and become one of the most entertaining invertebrates in your reef system.
