All penaeid shrimps have much the same life cycle.
Spawning usually occurs in the ocean from near the beaches to several miles offshore. A single female produces between 500,000 and 1,000,000 eggs and may spawn several times. During mating, the male transfers a packet of sperm, called spermatophore, to the female. Brown and pink shrimps mate when the female's exoskeleton is still soft immediately after molting. Spawning in the species may take place days later.