Lysmata amboinensis LYSAMB-032094-SOWDAV-002

This entry was posted on Sunday, March 20th, 1994 and is filed under Shrimps, Spawning Reports.

The Breeder’s Registry® Information contained in this report is taken from submittedobservations from aquarist unless noted otherwise (see comments). Information may be reproduced providing the Breeder’s Registry is cited.


Breeder ID: LYSAMB-032094-SOWDAV-002

Date received: 3/20/94

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): <1 Size: not indicated

Duration Female (yr):<1 Size: not indicated

Broodstock notes: Total of 4 adults

Physical differences: Not observable, but appears to have ability to change sex

Adult diet: Artemia, Flake food, frozen foods, commercial shrimp maturation diet. Fed twice daily

Pre-spawning activity: Shrimp are believed to store sperm. Male inserts sperm packet into females underside

Time spawning began: after molt

Area spawning occurred: not specific

Frequency of spawning: 11 – 15 days

Egg(s) description: Green, size and quantity dependent on adult size

Approximate quantity: up to 500

Size: varies

Incubation period: 5 – 7 days

Time hatching occurred: night

Newly hatched appear: Zooid stage – eyes not fully developed on eye stalks. Attracted to light

Size of hatching larvae: 3.4 mm, yolk sac not present

Method removal/transfer: No, eggs remain attached to pleopod


Spawning tank size(liter): 37

Sides of tank covered? Yes

Lighting & photo period: Flourescent cool-white, 5 cm above surface, 14 hours

Filtration: Water circulated through very course crushed coral

Additives & doses: Calcium carbonate

NO water parameters indicated.


Fry development/changes: Mysis stage; eyes are better developed. After 8 weeks larvae metamorphosis to juvenile and start reproducing within a week. Few viable eggs from first spawn.

First food offered: microalga, “infusia”, rotifers

Second food offered: Artemia nauplii, commercial food

Survival at 4 weeks: 5%

Development description: Post-larval stages have fully developed eye-stalks and develop 2 long “walking” legs which aid in catching prey and swimming.


Spawning tank size(liter): 37

Sides of tank covered? Yes

Lighting & photo period: Flourescent cool-white, 5 cm above surface, 14 hours

Filtration: Water circulated through very course crushed coral

Additives & doses: Calcium carbonate

Water temperature (F): 80 – 83 F

Specific gravity: 1.023

pH: 8.1

Nitrate: > 30 ppm


Comments: Tank contained several hanging fiberglass screens which aided the shrimp to pull out of molts. Screens need to be very fine ( 4 mm or smaller). Spawning reported in this report occurred 2/8/88 through 11/8/88.

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.

About this report: Information contained in this report is taken from submitted observations. Taxonomy, Synonomy, Original description , Word origin and Suggested reading are provided by member(s) of The Breeder’s Registry staff. Information is presented under the belief that it is accurate. If you have information in addition to, or contrary to that presented you are encouraged to contact the Breeder’s Registry. Permission is granted for “one-time” personal use. Reproduction as distributed or accessible media is prohibited without prior written permission. All rights reserved. 1994

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