Amano Shrimp

Species Overview

Common Name: Amano Shrimp, Yamato Shrimp, Japanese Swamp Shrimp
Scientific Name: Caridina Multidentata
Genus: Caridina
Wild Origin: Japan, Taiwan
Adult Size: 2+ in (Listing is for juvenile specimen 0.75-1.5" average)

**Note: All livestock orders will come carefully packaged with solid wall Styrofoam insulation and shipped via 1-day shipping only. No additional insulation is needed for your livestock.

The Amano Shrimp is the OG of all freshwater shrimp. Popularized in the 1990s by master aquascaper Takashi Amano, this species revolutionized the hobby by proving to be an invaluable asset to any aquarium clean-up crew. Larger and hardier than most dwarf shrimp, Amanos are famous for their appetite for nuisance algae, including the stubborn hair and string varieties that other shrimp ignore. They feature a translucent body decorated with a pattern of broken tan or brown horizontal lines and a subtle stripe running down the back.

 Key Features & Important Notes

• Tank-raised juveniles are shipped at 0.75–1.5 inches for optimal adaptation to new tank parameters.
• Renowned for targeting hair algae, string algae, diatoms, and organic detritus.
• Highly resilient, often reaching 2–3 years of lifespan in a stable environment.
• Noticeably larger than Neocaridina, making them ideal, peaceful companions for community tanks with larger fish.
• Unlike delicate "Bee" shrimp, Amanos thrive across a wide range of water parameters once acclimated.
• Constantly on the move, scouring every corner of the shrimp aquarium to keep the ecosystem balanced and pristine.
• To increase survival rates, please allow 2–3 business days after an order is placed to properly prepare live animal shipments.

Care Specifications & Tank Requirements

Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. Team Buce Plant encourages you to do thorough research before committing to keeping any livestock!

• Temperature Range: 65°–84°F
• pH: 6.5-8.0
• TDS: 80- 450 ppm
• GH: 1-15 dGH
• KH: 1-10 dKH
• Recommended Tank Size: 10+ gallons, minimum. While they can fit in 5-gallon setups, their high activity level and size make them much better suited for 10-gallon tanks or larger.

Diet

Omnivorous. Amano Shrimp are primarily algae eaters. They will scavenge for biofilm, decaying plant matter, and leftover fish food. We recommend supplementing their diet with plant-based pellets, spirulina, and blanched vegetables to ensure they receive proper minerals for molting.

Breeding

Breeding Amano Shrimp is a unique and demanding challenge. While females will often become "berried" in freshwater, the larvae require a transition into brackish or saltwater to survive their early life stages before returning to freshwater as juveniles. Because of this complex "low-order" reproductive cycle, most Amano Shrimp in the hobby do not reproduce in home freshwater aquariums, ensuring your tank will not become overpopulated.

Team Buce Plant Tips

If you're new to the hobby, learn the fundamentals with our Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp Care Guide. Before introducing your new livestock into a new tank, learn about the perfect drip rate and timing in 7 Easy Steps to Drip Acclimate Shrimp and Fish. Whether you need active soil or inert sand, you can find the perfect fit to stabilize your parameters in our Best Substrate for Shrimp Guide. When your tank is balanced and your colony is thriving, check out our step-by-step breakdown on How to Breed Freshwater Shrimp.