What tank size does a Amano Shrimp need?

A Amano Shrimp needs an aquarium of at least 40 litres (10.6 US gallons) with a footprint at least 45 cm (17.7 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.

What water parameters does a Amano Shrimp need?

Amano Shrimp does best at 18–28 °C (64.4–82.4 °F), pH 6.5–7.8 and a general hardness of 6–18 °dGH.

What group size does a Amano Shrimp need?

Amano Shrimp is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.

Is the Amano Shrimp suitable for beginners?

Yes — Amano Shrimp is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Species library

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Atyidae

InvertsDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established

📷 Przemysław Malkowski · CC BY 3.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

Amano Shrimp — Caridina multidentata — 📷 Przemysław Malkowski · CC BY 3.0 · resized · Wikimedia Commons

About

The Amano Shrimp, named for aquascaping legend Takashi Amano, is a translucent, hard-working algae grazer from streams in Japan and Taiwan. Larger than Neocaridina at around 5 cm, it is one of the most effective clean-up crew members in the hobby, constantly picking at hair algae, biofilm and leftover food. It is peaceful and hardy, but unlike cherry shrimp it will not breed in a freshwater tank because its larvae require brackish water to develop, so populations stay stable.

Care

Add a small group to a stable, cycled, copper-free tank with plenty of algae and biofilm; supplement food once natural grazing runs low.

Diet

Omnivorous detritivore that devours algae, biofilm and detritus; supplement with algae wafers, blanched vegetables and occasional protein to prevent it stripping plants.

Tankmate compatibility

Gets along with (59)

Agassiz's Cory Banjo Catfish Bladder Snail Blood Parrot Cichlid Bloodfin Tetra Blue Velvet Shrimp Bolivian Ram Borneo Sucker Bristlenose Pleco Bronze Corydoras Butterfly Hillstream Loach Celestial Pearl Danio Cherry Shrimp Chinese Algae Eater Denison Barb Doctor Fish Dojo (Weather) Loach Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish Dwarf Orange Crayfish Emerald Cory Freshwater Clam Ghost Shrimp Glass Catfish Glowlight Danio Gold Barb Golden Wonder Killifish Guppy Honey Gourami Japanese Trapdoor Snail Julii Cory Least Killifish Leopard Danio Malaysian Trumpet Snail Mystery Snail Odessa Barb Otocinclus Paraguay Eartheater Pearl Danio Penguin Tetra Peppered Corydoras Pictus Catfish Platy Rainbow Shark Ramshorn Snail Red Whiptail Catfish Red-Tail Shark Reticulated Hillstream Loach Rosy Barb Rubber Lip Pleco Salt and Pepper Cory Scarlet Badis Scissortail Rasbora Siamese Algae Eater Thai Micro Crab Tiger Barb Upside-down Catfish Venezuelan Cory X-ray Tetra Zebra Danio

Possible with care (155)

Acei Cichlid African Butterfly Cichlid African Butterflyfish Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid Assassin Snail Auratus Cichlid Bamboo Shrimp Black Moor Goldfish Black Neon Tetra Black Phantom Tetra Black Ruby Barb Black Skirt Tetra Blackline Rasbora Bleeding Heart Tetra Blue Acara Blue Dolphin Cichlid Blue Tiger Shrimp Boesemani Rainbowfish Borleyi (Redfin Hap)Brevis Shell Dweller Brichard's Teleogramma Buenos Aires Tetra Buffalohead Cichlid Bumblebee Cichlid Bumblebee Goby Celebes Rainbowfish Checkerboard Cichlid Checkered Barb Cherry Barb Chocolate Cichlid Clown Killifish Clown Pleco Cobalt Blue Zebra Cochu's Blue Tetra Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid Colombian Ramshorn Snail Comet Goldfish Common Goldfish Congo Dwarf Cichlid Congo Tetra Convict Cichlid Cylindricus Cichlid Demasoni Cichlid Diamond Tetra Discus Dogtooth Cichlid Dwarf Chain Loach Dwarf Flag Cichlid Dwarf Gourami Dwarf Petricola Catfish Electric Yellow Lab Elephantnose Fish Ellioti Cichlid Elongate Mbuna Ember Tetra Emperor Tetra Endler's Livebearer Even-spotted Synodontis Fantail Goldfish Festivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 Puffer Firemouth Cichlid Five-bar Cichlid Flame Tetra Forktail Rainbowfish German Blue Ram Glowlight Tetra Golden Dwarf Cichlid Golden Julie Golden Pencilfish Golden Tetra Green Discus Green Neon Tetra Harlequin Rasbora Head-and-Tail-Light Tetra Hongi Cichlid Jewel Cichlid Johanni Cichlid Kenyi Cichlid Keyhole Cichlid Kissing Gourami Kribensis Kuhli Loach Lambchop Rasbora Lemon Cichlid Lemon Tetra Little Corydoras Macmasteri Dwarf Cichlid Maingano Cichlid Marble Hatchetfish Marlieri Cichlid Medaka Ricefish Moonlight Gourami Multifasciatus Shell Dweller Neon Tetra Nerite Snail Ocellatus Shell Dweller Oranda Goldfish Panda Corydoras Paradise Fish Peaceful Betta Peacock Cichlid Pearl Gourami Polka Dot Loach Port Cichlid Powder Blue Cichlid Purple Emperor Tetra Pygmy Corydoras Rabbit Snail Rainbow Cichlid Ranchu Goldfish Red Empress Red Rainbowfish Red Zebra Cichlid Redhead Cichlid Regan's Julie Rosy Red Minnow Rosy Tetra Rummynose Tetra Rusty Cichlid Ryukin Goldfish Sailfin Molly Saulosi Cichlid Serpae Tetra Severum Shubunkin Goldfish Silver Tip Tetra Similis Shell Dweller Skunk Cory Sparkling Gourami Spotted Hoplo Star Sapphire Sterbai Corydoras Strawberry Rasbora Striped Kribensis Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp Sunshine Peacock Sveni Eartheater Swordtail T-Bar Cichlid Taiwan Reef Cichlid Telescope Goldfish Thick-lipped Gourami Threadfin Acara Threadfin Rainbowfish Three-spot Gourami Turquoise Rainbowfish Uaru (Triangle Cichlid)Umbrella Dwarf Cichlid Vampire Shrimp White Cloud Mountain Minnow Wrestling Halfbeak Yoyo Loach Zebra Mbuna Zebra Pleco

Avoid (57)

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

Full tank-mates guide with reasons →

Telling males from females

What works for this species, most reliable first.

Saddle and berryStrong · at 12–18 mm body length — under 10 mm nothing shows
The ovaries show through the shell behind the head as a pale yellow or green patch shaped like a saddle. Those are unfertilised eggs, and their appearance is what tells you she is mature. Once she is carrying, they move under the tail and are fanned by her swimmerets.

All the methods, with diagrams

Also in these lists

Fish for a 54 litre tank Fish for a first aquarium Bottom dwellers Peaceful community fish

Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Amano Shrimp need?: A Amano Shrimp needs an aquarium of at least 40 litres (10.6 US gallons) with a footprint at least 45 cm (17.7 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
What water parameters does a Amano Shrimp need?: Amano Shrimp does best at 18–28 °C (64.4–82.4 °F), pH 6.5–7.8 and a general hardness of 6–18 °dGH.
What group size does a Amano Shrimp need?: Amano Shrimp is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
Is the Amano Shrimp suitable for beginners?: Yes — Amano Shrimp is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature18–28°C

Optimal temp.20–25°C

pH6.5–7.8

Hardness (GH)6–18°d

Carbonate (KH)2–10°d

Adult size5 cm

Min. volume≥ 40 L

Min. tank length≥ 45 cm

Group size≥ 6

Swimming zoneBottom

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeFreshwater

FlowModerate

Lifespan~3 yrs

Try in the calculator