Lysmata napoleoni, a New Species of Cleaner Shrimp from the Middle of the Atlantic

Lysmata napoleoni is a new species of Caridean shrimp from St. Helena named after one of its most notorious residents, Napoleon Bonaparte. This distinctively colored species is recognizable in the field at depths of 15 meters at St. Helena and…

Urocaridella degravei, A New Species of Arrow Cleaner Shrimp

There’s an incredible diversity of tropical shrimps that live on coral reefs and a whole suite of them perform cleaning services for reef fish. We’re all very familiar with the common red line cleaner shrimp, Lysmata amboinensis but there’s a group…

Invertebrate Spotlight: The Skunk Cleaner Shrimp

Skunk Cleaner shrimp are one of the most useful crustaceans that aid in cleaning fish of parasites. Even before we saw Jacques in Finding Nemo, cleaner shrimp had already become one of the most popular invertebrates in our aquariums. Unlike cleaner wrasses,…

Salty Q&A: Harlequin Tuskfish Ate My Cleaner Shrimp!

Question Two weeks ago, I added a harlequin tuskfish to my 90-gallon reef tank with the understanding that it’s a peaceful fish. Then this morning, the stupid thing ate my skunk cleaner shrimp right in front of me! Was I…

Cleaner Shrimp: Practically Perfect Marine Aquarium Invertebrates

When we think of symbiosis on tropical coral reefs, the classic example of clownfishes and their host anemones often comes to mind. However, there’s another model of symbiosis that’s every bit as fascinating to observe but much easier to recreate…

Friendly unicorn tang allows The Hand to pick at him like a cleaner shrimp

[youtube width=”680″ height=”400″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiZAh-WNMdw[/youtube] Let’s face it, surgeonfish aka tangs are really friendly and inquisitive fish, especially the members of the Naso genus. This Naso brevicornis has been in captivity for ten years during which time it has become aware that people…

Aquarium rock lobsters might soon be a reality from research by AIMS scientists

Scientists working at the Australian Institute of Marine Science are looking at the prospect of raising rock and spiny lobsters artificially for the aquarium trade and for food. Like many of the giant clam farms, the AIMS scientist have struck…