Visiting the Lysmata seticaudata Kingdom

[Joao Monteiro]

Hi there,

I visited Lusoreef, Lda. a Portuguese company that began producing the aiptasia eaters Monaco shrimp (Lysmata seticaudata) and has subsequently extended its activity to cleaning crews (nassarius, ophiurus, amphiurus, hermit crabs, turbos, etc).

On an experimental basis they are also trying other Lysmatas, like debelius (fire shrimp) amboinensis (cleaner shrimp) and grabhami.

They´re core business, however, is still Lysmata seticaudata where Lusoreef is one of the major producers is Europe.

I attach some photos that prove that there are some very good companies in Portugal (not many, unfortunately) dedicated to our hobby and preserving the reefs with captive bred species.

Arrival at Lusoreef
http://www.megagaleria.com/pictures/Pic_6420_1.jpg

View of the production room
http://www.megagaleria.com/pictures/Pic_6420_2.jpg

A group of breeders (L. seticaudata)
http://www.megagaleria.com/pictures/Pic_6420_3.jpg

The net used to capture the new hatches, that are counted (one by one...) and pass to the juvenil tanks
http://www.megagaleria.com/pictures/Pic_6420_4.jpg

The "tropical room" where experiments with L.debelius, amboinensis and grabhammi take place
http://www.megagaleria.com/pictures/Pic_6420_5.jpg

A very young Lysmata debelius
http://www.megagaleria.com/pictures/Pic_6420_6.jpg

The cleaning crew´s room
http://www.megagaleria.com/pictures/Pic_6420_7.jpg

Tanks with nassarius (left) and Ophiurus (right)
http://www.megagaleria.com/pictures/Pic_6420_8.jpg

Hope you enjoy the photos.

Regards
João

[ryantm]

More proof that aquaculture is the wave of the future. Thanks for sharing.

[castorpollux]

ive never heard them called monaco shrimp, love to hear new names of things, nice photos too

[Joao Monteiro]

Lysmata seticaudata (Risso, 1816)

English : Monaco shrimp

French : Bouc / Crevette monégasque

Portuguese : Camarão limpador do Mónaco

Castelhano : Camarón monegasco

Italian : Gamberetto rosso

[Travis L. Stevens]

Edit: I stuck my foot in my mouth. They aren't what we call Peppermint Shrimp (Lysmata wurdemanni). I was thinking it was something else :D

[Joao Monteiro]

Hi there Travis,

I do believe that "Pepermint shrimp" is the Lysmata wurdemanni .

Although similar to the L. seticaudata, it is not the same species.

It is also said to be a more agressive species than the seticaudata

________
Edit: I saw your editing. Ok, we agree

[meschaefer]

those photos are great. not often most of us get to see the inside of an operation like that.

thanks

[Evergreen]

Those are amazing pix! How many zoid stages do these undergo? How long do they remain larval? I heard that was the biggest stumbling block to culturing shrimp (very long larval stages where they are planktonic and difficult to feed, etc. (Sallie Boggs, PhD at NERAC II conference, Long Island) She would be very interested to see this!

[Joao Monteiro]

Hi there, Evergreen

I´ve contacted my friend that manages Lusoreef for the information you´ve asked and this is it:

- Lysmata seticaudata (the ones the produce) - 9 zoid stages, of average 3 days each. Mass settling at around 30 days;

- L. Debelius and amboinensis - 14 to 16 zoid stages. Settlement at around 60 days.
They´re trying these two species but, as you may know... its far from easy.
It´s their "Holly Graal chase"

I posted (above) a photo of one of their first Debelius.