[j_man]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also whats better a fire shrimp or a cleaner shrimp?

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by j_man

Also whats better a fire shrimp or a cleaner shrimp?

A "fire shrimp" is a cleaner shrimp.

All members of the Lysmata genus are cleaners; however, most people think of L. amboinensis or its nearly identical Atlantic relative L. grabhami when they use the common name "cleaner shrimp."

The "fire shrimp" is L. debelius. It is bright red all over and usually costs more than L. amboinensis. Both species are nice additions to a reef tank. I would recommend two of the same species unless you have a large tank, in which case you could get two of both species.

L. wurdemanni, commonly called the "peppermint shrimp" is another cleaner shrimp -- the Caribbean cleaner shrimp. There are at least five different species of "peppermint shrimp" that I can think of off the top of my head -- three in the Atlantic and two in the eastern Pacific off the coast of California.

More proof that common names are useless.

[j_man]

so both the striped cleaner and the fire red shrimp are both good cleaners. and either one is just as reef safe?

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by j_man

so both the striped cleaner and the fire red shrimp are both good cleaners. and either one is just as reef safe?

As far as I know, both are reef-aquarium safe. Personally, I think the Lysmata amboinensis (aka common cleaner shrimp, white stripe cleaner shrimp, skunk cleaner shrimp, scarlet cleaner shrimp) is the best cleaner shrimp for a reef aquarium. This is not to say that you shouldn't get one or two L. debelius (aka scarlet cleaner shrimp or fire shrimp) if you prefer them. I would go with either of those over L. wurdemanni (peppermint shrimp). L. wurdemanni is a bit more risky.