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Breeder ID: LYSAMB-090194-PETMIC-003 Date Received: 9/1/94

Identification: Lysmata amboinensis (De Man, 1888) Geographic origin: Indo-pacific


Taxonomy: (after I.C.Z.N.)

Kingdom Animalia

Phylum Arthropoda

Subphylum Branchiata (=Diantennata)

Class Crustacea Subclass Malacostraca

Order Decapoda Suborder Natantia

Family Hippolytidae

Genus Lysmata (Risso, 1816)

Species amboinensis (De Man, 1888)


Duration Male (yr): 3.0* Size Male (mm): 51

Duration Female 1 (yr): * Size Female 1 (mm): 57

Broodstock notes: Hermaphroditic. Pattern on tail varies. One of the "pair" has died, possibly end of life span(?) Spawning stopped 2 months prior to death

Physical differences: not indicated

Adult diet: Scavengers. Varied diet: frozen brine, pellets, formula one. Twice weekly

Pre-spawning activity: Eggs are held between pleopods (swimmerettes).

Time spawning began: night Area spawning occurred: not indicated

Frequency of spawnings: 14-21 days Egg(s) description: Eggs turn green to silver 1-2 days prior hatching

Approximate quantity: 300-500 Size: not indicated

Egg changes/development: Eggs hatch in pleopods

Incubation period: not indicated Time hatching occurred: 2200 hr

Newly hatched appear: Parent shakes tail or plucks larvae from pleopods, larvae are free swimming and attracted to light

Size of hatching larvae: 1-2 mm Yolk sac present?: not indicated

Fry development/changes: clear "stick-like" bodies with orange abdomen upon release. Eyes set close to head. Day 5 (~ 3 molts) eyes on stalk protruding from head. Body ~3mm long

Method removal/transfer: Attracted to light and removed with baster to 24 oz cups. Entire hatching takes 20 - 60 minutes. All filtration is turned off.


Spawning tank size(liter): 265 Sides of tank covered? Yes, black

Lighting & photoperiod: 2-60W actinic (12 hrs)1-175 MH 5500K (9 hrs)

Filtration: Skimmer, live rock. Instant Ocean® /CoraLife® 37 Liter/month

Additives & doses: Kalkwasser for evaporation, Strontium 2ml/week, CombiSan® infrequently

Water temperature (F): 77-80 Specific Gravity: 1.023 pH: 8.0-8.4 Nitrate: 4 ppm


First food offered: pellets and Wardley Flake® crushed to powder, daily

Second food offered: Newly hatched Artemia, day 3-4. Fed every 3-4 days

Survival 1st week (%): 27% Survival 2nd week (%): 16%

Survival 3rd week (%): 9% Survival 4th week (%): 9%

Development description: day 13 appendages have grown long. Day 14 faint color appears tail and body. Day 22, spear like paddles on 1 set back legs. Day 34 antennae white


Rearing tank size (liter): 75 Sides of tank covered? Not indicated

Lighting & photoperiod: ambient

Filtration: none, changed water 75% twice daily from main tank

Additives & doses: none indicated

Water temperature (F): 77-80 Specific Gravity: 1.023 pH: 8.0-8.4 Nitrate: 4 ppm


Comments: Day 50, orange and red color very definite but not like adults. Day 58 have spearlike paddles on 3 pairs of legs. Day 89 >6 mm. Started with 45;wk 1 = 12, wk 2 = 7,wk 3-4 = 4, Day 40 = 3, Day 50 = 2 Day 57 = 1. Last larvae died day 89.

Word origin: Lysmata appears to be from the Greek roots Lys meaning loose and mat, -aeo, -eo, meaning foolish or idle. The species amboinensis is from the Latin roots ambo meaning both; in meaning without ; and -ensi, =s meaning a sword. The literal translation seems a bit confusing and the genus Lysmata may refer to the cleaner shrimps leaving the substrate (loose) to clean fish capable of eating them (foolish). The meaning of the species name amboinensis can be literally translated as "both without a sword", but the significance of this is not clear.

The order Decapoda means "ten legs" (Deca indicating ten and pod meaning foot. The suborder Nantia refers to shrimp. The family Hippolytidae are the "cleaner" shrimp. There appears no Latin or Greek root for Nantia and Hippolytidae appears to be a combination of hippo meaning "horse" and ly another word for loose, and idae being a standard suffix for an animal, although generally used on family designations.