[3] Lysmata are popular ornamental shrimp in the marine aquarium trade for their bright color patterns, interesting behaviors, and ability to control certain aquarium pests[3] such as sea anemones of the genus Aiptasia.

Some species are cleaner shrimp which "clean" parasites and other material from fish, live in pairs, and are brightly colored, often in contrasting reds and yellows with white antennae.

Other species are the "peppermint shrimp", which have semi-translucent, red-banded bodies, and live in large groups.

[4] The genus has been studied with interest due to its unusual sexual system, protandric simultaneous hermaphroditism.

[3] While some other taxa of shrimp undergo sequential hermaphroditism, they have only been observed changing from male to female.