How long does skunk cleaner shrimp lives?

[dz6t]

I have not seen my big skunk cleaner shrimp for several days and I think he is dead. He is about almost 3 years old as far as I know. How long does cleaner shrimp lives?

 

[Clam Man]

I have heard 2 years is the norm.I have had 2 shunk and 2 blood shrimps I bought about 5 years ago 1 skunk and 1 blood died after 2 years the other 2 are still going strong.

 

[dz6t]

Thanks for the info. The cleaner shrimp was very big when I got him. Well, I feel a little bit better.

 

[Matt L.]

Not very long.

Also, keep in mind that you have no idea how old he was when you got him.

Snails are the same way,

Matt

 

[OceanGuy]

If it is a Scarlet Skunk Cleaner Shrimp, Lysmata amboinensis, it has a life span of 4 years. It sometimes hides in rock after a molt until the new exoskeleton forms. Many times it will eat the molted exoskelton in order to strengthen the new one.

In order to molt, there needs to be some iodine in the water. It will then molt, hide in rock for a bit and then emerge with the new exoskeleton.

I hope that is the case for you.

Tom
OceanGuy