Acclimation Cleaner Shrimp

Cleaner shrimp are a type of decapod crustaceans that are known for their cleaning symbiosis with client fish. They clean parasites from the fish, and in return, the shrimp gain the nutritional value of the parasites. The shrimp also eat the mucus and parasites around the wounds of injured fish, which reduces infections and helps healing.

Cleaner shrimp are found in many coral reefs and are often seen congregating at cleaning stations. Some popular species include the Pacific cleaner shrimp, scarlet cleaner shrimp, skunk cleaner shrimp, and banded coral shrimp.

If you’re interested in keeping cleaner shrimp in your aquarium, some of the easiest to care for and feed are from the Lysmata and Stenopus Genera. This includes the Boxing, Peppermint, Fire, and Skunk shrimps.