Cleaner shrimp may be small, but these fascinating creatures have much to offer your saltwater aquarium. Cleaner shrimp are small crustaceans who clean both the environment of your tank and other inhabitants, removing parasites and general debris. They are also brightly colored little guys who look good, if a little alien, in your aquarium. 

From the skunk cleaner shrimp to the peppermint shrimp, Aqua Creations explores the different types of cleaning shrimp for aquariums and how to choose the right species for your tank.

Aqua Creations shows a cleaner shrimp in a saltwater aquarium

The Best Saltwater Shrimp for Your Aquarium

There are several species of saltwater cleaner shrimp, each one beneficial for creating a healthier and cleaner environment for your fish and aquatic life.
cleaner shrimp

Skunk Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata Amboinensis)

Often called Pacific cleaner shrimp due to their Indo-Pacific origins, skunk cleaner fish feature a distinctive white line running down their body, making them an attractive addition to your aquarium.
Boasting a vibrant scarlet color, the scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp will set up shop in the corner of your tank so that fish can swim by when they need a good cleaning. In addition to removing parasites and cleaning any injuries, evidence suggests that fish enjoy being cleaned and it may reduce their stress levels.
Aqua Creations shows a peppermint cleaner shrimp in a saltwater aquarium

Peppermint Cleaner Shrimp (Lysmata Wurdemanni)

Commonly known as peppermint shrimp due to their striking resemblance to peppermint candy, these cleaner shrimp will chow down on detritus and other organic material, helping to keep your tank clean. Peppermint shrimp can assist with cleaning up nuisance pests like aiptasia, a type of aggressive anemone.
Aqua Creations shows a fire cleaner shrimp in a saltwater aquarium

Fire Shrimp (Lysmata Debelius)

A bold red shrimp with white markings, fire shrimp are often added to aquariums for both their vivid appearance and cleaning abilities. Also called blood shrimp, these cleaner shrimp thrive in peaceful aquariums without predatory fish.
Aqua Creations shows a coral banded cleaner shrimp in a saltwater aquarium

Coral Banded Shrimp (Stenopus Hispidus)

More aggressive than other cleaner shrimp, coral-banded shrimp should not be kept with their species unless it’s a mated pair. Red and white with pincer claws and long white antennae, these cleaner shrimp are nocturnal, so make sure you set up a good daytime hiding place in your aquarium.

Cleaner Shrimp Tank Mates

For smaller saltwater aquariums or lower fish populations, you may find that the cleaner shrimp annoy the resident fish by trying to clean more often than necessary. You may find it necessary to feed the shrimp a supplemental diet of small bits of crustacean. Be aware that shrimps are hermaphroditic and any two can, and will, lay eggs and breed. Before introducing cleaner shrimp, ensure that none of the fish in your aquarium are the kind of predator that will eat cleaner shrimps. Most fish, but not all, will recognize cleaners as their friends and not bother them.
Pacific cleaner shrimp tank mates should not include predators like groupers and larger wrasses, nor aggressive fish like lionfish and triggerfish.

What Do Cleaner Shrimp Eat?

Though they do not typically hunt live prey in the traditional sense, cleaner shrimp are considered carnivores as their diet mostly consists of animal matter, such as parasites and dead skin. Their feeding behavior is unique in that it revolves around cleaning symbiosis, where both the shrimp and the fish they clean benefit.

Choose Your Cleaner Shrimp With Aqua Creations

You need to ensure that the cleaner shrimp are compatible with all aspects of your aquarium. When choosing a species of cleaner shrimp for your saltwater aquarium, consider the following:
  • Size of the aquarium
  • Presence of coral
  • Types of fish in the tank

Cleaner shrimps will help your fish stay healthy and many will also eat the organic detritus in the tank, which can save time when cleaning. For more information about cleaner shrimp and other ways to keep your fish healthy and happy, contact Aqua Creations, experts in everything aquatic. From design to building and maintenance, Aqua Creations is passionate about every aquarium project we are privileged to lead.

About the Author

Sol Bick

Sol Bick
Aqua Creations Founder

Aqua Creations founder and self-proclaimed fish addict, Sol Bick is passionate about anything aquatic. With over 50 years of experience as an aquarium hobbyist and professional, Sol never stops plunging into the depths of aquatic science, researching, contributing to, and staying current with the latest technologies.