MARINE FISH PROFILE - Cleaner Shrimp

Cleaner Shrimps

Cleaner shrimps are attractive marine shrimps from the Families Hippolytidae, Palaemonidae, and the shrimp-like Stenopodidae. They are found in tropical and warm temperate waters worldwide and get their common name because they clean fish (and sometimes other animals such as lobsters) by removing parasites, debris, fungi, injured or dead tissue - which promotes healing, and food scraps from the mouth (Wicksten 2009). The relationship is thought to be mutually beneficial as the shrimps receive food and sometimes protection (for those species that share a crevice with a moray), and cleaning improves the fish’s health and reduces its stress levels (Vaughan et al. 2018). However not all cleaning shrimps are created equal. The strikingly patterned and boldly coloured cleaner shrimps that are popular in tropical marine aquaria (e.g., skunk cleaner shrimp, Lysmata amboinensis, fire shrimp, L. debelius, redbacked cleaner shrimp, L. grabhami, banded coral ‘shrimp’, Stenopus hispidus) are specialised cleaners. They are territorial, found in pairs or solitary, display to attract clients, often have a cleaning station, are most active during the day, and cleaning makes up a large part of their diet (Rhyne and Lin 2006, Wicksten 2009).

Above: Skunk cleaner shrimp - L. amboinensis Photo: Lonnie Huffman

Top right: Banded coral shrimp - Stenopus hispidus Photo: Alexander Vasenin

Bottom right: Fire shrimp - L. debelius Photo: Haplochromis

Peppermint shrimps have a semi-translucent body with red bands and comprise a number of very similar Lysmata species (e.g., L. wurdemanni species complex, L. californica). Peppermint shrimps often live in groups, are most active at night where they may move to more open areas to feed, and don’t display to fish. Some peppermint shrimp species do clean fish such as moray eels, e.g. L. californica, but they do it passively (Rhyne and Lin 2006, Wicksten 2009). Most ornamental cleaner shrimps are wild caught and there is concern as to the effect of their removal on tropical reef ecosystems. This has prompted numerous studies aimed at developing aquaculture protocols for the popular ornamental species (Wabnitz et al. 2003). However, most species have a relatively long larval period and poor larval survival. All Lysmata shrimps that have been studied, first mature as males (they also have undeveloped ovaries) and then become hermaphrodites and can reproduce as both males and females (Baeza et al. 2009). The global trade in ornamental cleaner shrimps is mainly comprised of twelve species (8 Lysmata and 4 Stenopus) which, excluding corals, make up about 23% of imported invertebrate specimens worldwide (Wabnitz et al. (2003). Six of these species

Redbacked cleaner shrimp - L. grabhami Photo: Fernando Herranz Martin

(the skunk cleaner shrimp, L. amboinensis; fire shrimp, L. debelius; redbacked cleaner shrimp, L. grabhami; peppermint shrimp, L. wurdemanni (now split into several closely related species, of which the most common ornamental species is L. boggessi, Baeza and Behringer 2017); and the banded coral shrimps, Stenopus hispidus and S. cyanoscelis) are approved for importation into New Zealand (MAF Biosecurity New Zealand 2011). A further temperate cleaner shrimp, the red rock shrimp, Lysmata californica is invasive. Three other tropical marine shrimps are also allowed to be imported (the anemone shrimp Periclimenes brevicarpalis, marbled shrimp, Saron marmoratus, and camel shrimp, Rhynchocinetes uritai). In New Zealand, cleaner

Anemone shrimp - Periclimenes brevicarpalis Photo: Robert Beke

shrimps are a popular addition to established marine tanks, but imports are intermittent. Cleaner shrimps are fairly hardy and relatively easy to keep provided aquarium conditions are stable (Wabnitz et al. 2003). Tank mates should be chosen with care as some species, such as wrasses, triggerfish, and hawkfish, may see them as a tasty snack. More than one species of Lysmata can be kept together in an aquarium but they are best not kept with banded coral ‘shrimps’ (Stenopus spp.) which may attack them. Banded coral shrimps can also be aggressive towards each other and are best kept singly or as mated pairs.

Some peppermint shrimps can be effective at controlling pest anemones, in particular Aiptasia spp. However, some aquarists find they also like feeding on other anemones, brain corals, LPS corals, and coco worms. Cleaner shrimps often produce fertile eggs in captivity. However, raising the young is challenging as they have several delicate larval stages, a long larval period, and losses are often high. If you want to give it a go there is a great book (Kirkendoll, 2008) and several great online resources (e.g. Betts, 2004, Sällström, 2019). New Zealand has two tropical and three temperate cleaner shrimps. The tropical IndoPacific species, Lysmata trisetacea, is known from the Kermadec Islands and the banded coral shrimp, Stenopus hispidus, is sometimes found in northern New Zealand (Yaldwyn and Webber 2011). The three temperate ‘peppermint’ shrimps (Lysmata californica, L. morelandi, L. vittata) are more widespread, and would be great subjects for a dedicated temperate marine aquarium. They all look similar with a semi-translucent body and red stripes. The red-striped shrimp, Lysmata vittata is a small species (to about 4 cm TL) found in northern New Zealand waters from the intertidal zone to about 50 metres. It is widespread in the Indo-West Pacific and was first identified in New Zealand waters (Auckland, Manukau, and Kaipara Harbours) in 2010. It has likely been previously overlooked or mistaken for L. morelandi (Ahyong, 2010). It has thinner and more uniform red lines than the other two species.

Red striped shrimp - L. vittata Photo: Matthew Connors

Lysmata morelandi grows to about 5 cm and is known from northern New Zealand waters to the lower east coast North Island (Castlepoint). It is also found in southeast Australian waters. It can be found from the intertidal zone to 142 metres depths (Hanamura 2008). L. morelandi has broader and less uniform stripes than L. vittata. The red rock shrimp, Lysmata californica is an eastern Pacific species that was first identified in New Zealand waters in 2009 and is likely to have arrived as larvae in ballast water. It is currently known from Whangarei, Gisborne, and Castlepoint but it is likely to be more widespread. L. californica grows to about 8 cm and is found from the intertidal zone to about 60 metres depth.

L. morelandi Photo: Ian Skipworth

Lysmata californica and L. morelandi are very similar. They both have broad bands and accurate identification requires a microscope

L. californica Photo: Peter Marriot, NIWA

(there are differences in small spines, hairs, and the number of segments on the second modified leg). Large L. morelandi are a brighter red than large L. californica which are much darker. L. californica also grows larger. In aquaria, L. morelandi are reclusive, rarely leaving their shelter in daylight while L. californica will leave their shelter for food and, with patience, can be hand fed. (Jeff Forman, NIWA, pers comm.). In California, red rock shrimp are often found in aggregations of several hundred individuals and there is a small but high value commercial trap fishery, mainly for fishing bait but also for the aquarium trade (Herbinson and Larson 2001). They often share crevices with, and clean California morays (Gymnothorax mordax), but most of their diet is thought to be from scavenging decaying tissue, including dead fish and invertebrates (Herbinson and Larson 2001). In the USA, red rock shrimp are sometimes sold to aquarists as ‘peppermint’ shrimps, and they are mistakenly kept in tropical marine tanks (generally 25–26°C). Being a temperate species they seldom last long. They can be kept at water temperatures of 10 - 20°C (www. saltcorner.com). And finally, if you want to set up a native marine shrimp tank and are having trouble obtaining one of the local Lysmata shrimps, then painted shrimps, Alope spinifrons are well worth trying. They are covered in a network of red and blue lines, grow to about 6 cm, and are common in the intertidal zone throughout New Zealand and the Chatham Islands. As with the temperate Lysmata shrimps they are mainly nocturnal and hide in crevices, or under rocks, during the day.

L. californica Photo: Robin Gwen Agarwal

The temperate Lysmata shrimps and the painted shrimp are peaceful and best kept in tanks of at least 100 litres. They are mainly nocturnal and are therefore best fed at night. They will accept a wide range of food including mussel flesh, mysids, prawns, fish and squid. As with the tropical cleaner shrimps, tank mates need to be chosen with care as some fish, such as wrasses, may eat them.

Darren Stevens

References.

Ahyong, S.T. (2010). New species and new records of Caridea (Hippolytidae: Pasiphaeidae) from New Zealand. Zootaxa 2372: 341–357. Baeza, J.A., Behringer, D.C. (2017). Integrative taxonomy of the ornamental `peppermint' shrimp public market and population genetics of Lysmata boggessi, the most heavily traded species worldwide. PeerJ DOI 10.7717/peerj.3786. Baeza, J.A., Schubart, C.D., Zilner, P., Fuentes, S., Bauer, R.T. (2009). Molecular phylogeny of shrimps from the genus Lysmata (Caridea: Hippolytidae): the evolutionary origins of protandric simultaneous hermaphroditism and social monogamy. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 96: 415–424. Betts, P. (2004). Feature Article: Behavior and Breeding of Peppermint Shrimp. https://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/4/ aafeature. Hanamura, Y. (2008). A new species of Eualus Thallwitz, 1891 and a new record of Lysmata morelandi (Yaldwyn, 1971) (Decapoda, Caridea, Hippolytidae) from south-eastern Australia. Crustaceana 81 (1): 87–97. Herbinson, K.; Mary Larson, M. (2001). Red Rock Shrimp. pp. 127-128 In: California’s Living Marine Resources: A Status Report. California Department of Fish and Game. https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/ FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=34329&inline. Kirkendoll, A. (2008). How to Raise & Train Your Peppermint Shrimp, 2nd Edition. Lysmata Publishing. 136 p. MAF Biosecurity NZ (2011). Import Health Standard for Ornamental Fish and Marine Invertebrates from All Countries. 20 April 2011. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Wellington. 72 pp. Rhyne A.L., Lin, J. (2006). A western Atlantic peppermint shrimp complex: redescription of Lysmata wurdemanni, description of four new species, and remarks on Lysmata rathbunae (Crustacea: Decapoda: Hippolytidae). Bulletin of Marine Science 79(1): 165–204. Sällström, D. (2019). Breeding Peppermint Shrimp. https://www. reef2reef.com/ams/breeding-peppermint-shrimp.644/.

Painted shrimp - Alope spinifrons Photo: David Riddell

Vaughan, D.B., Grutter, A.S., Ferguson, H.W., Jones, R., Hutson, K.S. (2018). Cleaner shrimp are true cleaners of injured fish. Marine Biology 165 (7): 118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-018-3379-y Wabnitz, C., M. Taylor, E. Green, and T. Razak. (2003). From Ocean to Aquarium: the global trade in marine ornamental species. UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre 2003, Cambridge, UK. Wicksten, M. K. (2009). Interactions with Fishes of Five Species of Lysmata (Decapoda, Caridea, Lysmatidae). Crustaceana 82 (9): 1213–1223. Yaldwyn, J. C.; Webber, W.R. (2011). Annotated checklist of New Zealand Decapoda (Arthropoda: Crustacea). Tuhinga 22: 171–272. http://www.saltcorner.com/AquariumLibrary/browsespecies. php?CritterID=2587. http://shapeandtheidea.blogspot.com/2016/11/day-69-paintedshrimp-alope-spinifrons.html. https://aquariumworld.nz/databases/10-marine/262-Banded-CoralShrimp.

Painted shrimp - Alope spinifrons Photo: tangatawhenua