Amano Shrimp
Common Name: Amano Shrimp, Caridina Multidenata, Caridina Japonica
Check out our blog on how to care for these awesome critters!
Care: Easy
Temperature Range: 65 – 84 F
pH: 6.5-8.0
TDS: 80- 450 ppm
GH: 1-15 dGH
KH: 1-10 dKH
Life Span: 2-3 years
Size: 1/2" - 1"
Diet: Omnivore
Habitat: Freshwater, Fully Aquatic
Breeding: Easy
Gestation Period: 30 Days
Our Water Parameters:
Temperature Range: 65 – 80 F
pH: 7.2-7.6
TDS: 250-300
GH: 8
KH: 8
Size: .75 - 1.0"
The Amano Shrimp is the OG of all freshwater shrimp. These guys are the hardest working algae eating clean up crews out there and they're hard to kill unlike most dwarf shrimp. They are considered to be the catalyst for popularizing the dwarf shrimp hobby in the United States in the 1990’s. Amano Shrimp are very active as they scavenge the tank, cleaning up waste. They love to feed off of naturally occurring biofilm and algae, especially in a planted tank. Amano Shrimp can withstand a pretty wide range of water parameters, and their life expectancy can be up to 4 years if they are kept well. Amano Shrimp are versatile when it comes to water parameters, and this combined with their incredible cleaning capacity makes them a good option as tank companions. Amano Shrimp can be semi-aggressive, but do not typically present big problems as long as they are kept with appropriate companion species.
The Amano Shrimp hails from the swamps of Japan, where shrimp hobbyist Takashi Amano spread the word about the benefits to keeping these shrimp in a planted tank. Amano Shrimp have a mostly clear body with a tan or brown stripe running down their back from head to tail. They usually have a spotting pattern of broken horizontal lines in tan or brown around their body. Sexing Amano Shrimp can be somewhat difficult until the shrimp begin to mature. The easiest way to determine the sex of an Amano Shrimp is their markings. Look at the lowest stripe along the length of the body, and you will notice that male shrimp typically have a line of separate dots while females have dashes, appearing like a broken line. Female shrimp have slightly larger tails and display a “saddle” formation on the upper body, behind the head, where eggs are stored before fertilization. When female shrimp are “berried”, or have eggs ready for fertilization, the saddle shape will appear more prominent. Once the shrimp are fully-grown the males will be smaller than the females.
Amano Shrimp are tolerant to a fairly wide range of water parameters, making them excellent for pairing with other species. As long as the shrimp are acclimated properly to your chosen parameters and are not subjected to extreme changes in temperature or acidity, they are adaptable and resilient. They prefer harder water, as the adult shrimp do not tolerate salt. The ideal water parameters are 64°-80° F with 6 to 7.5 pH. However, as mentioned, you may keep them outside of these parameters as long as the shrimp are protected from extreme or frequent fluctuations.
We do have a guide on the different substrates that can help achieve parameters. Take a look here!
Best Substrate for Shrimp
If you're starting to notice your shrimp not doing so well, we recommend you look into our blog!
Amano Shrimp can usually survive off of scavenged biofilm and algae in a planted tank, depending on the size of the shrimp colony. If there are too many shrimp in your tank for the available algae and biofilm, or not enough plants to produce it, you can supplement their diet with algae tablets, blanched vegetables, or any other shrimp food. Be aware that even though Amano Shrimp will spend most of their time eating waste and algae build-up, they will not affect the nitrate level in your tank. You will still need to carry out regular water changes.
Amano Shrimp are very difficult to breed. Adult shrimp will fertilize female eggs readily, but these shrimp hatch as larva. Amano Shrimp larva need to be kept in salt water to metamorphose back into freshwater shrimp. This requires a marine water and brackish water stage, as well as ample plankton for the larva to feed on. With the necessary equipment you may be able to raise Amano Shrimp larva to maturity.
Amano Shrimp are a great addition to any shrimp hobbyist’s aquarium, whether it is long established or just beginning. These shrimp are easy to care for and make a great match with many other species of fish and shrimp. If you want to enjoy an active shrimp that will greatly help with your tank maintenance, the Amano Shrimp is a great choice.
To ensure live arrival, free shipping does not apply to shrimp orders which will be sent via Fedex Overnight. We guarantee live arrival and will provide coverage in the unfortunate event of DOA. In order to receive a refund on DOA, please send us a photos of the dead shrimp in their original bag clearly showing the dead shrimp within two hours of package delivery.