Vampire Shrimp
Atya gabonensis
Atyidae
About
The vampire shrimp, also sold as the Gabon, viper or African fan shrimp, is a large and strikingly built filter feeder native to fast-flowing rivers of West Africa and parts of South America. Reaching up to around 15 cm, it is peaceful, shy and largely nocturnal, spending its days tucked inside a favourite cave and emerging in low light to fan suspended food from the current. Rather than grazing surfaces it strains microscopic particles from the water, so it depends on strong flow and a mature, well-established aquarium rather than on scavenging. Its larvae need brackish water to develop, so it does not breed in a standard freshwater tank.
Care
Keep one in a mature 75 L+ tank with strong flow, sand substrate and secure caves for daytime hiding. It filter-feeds on suspended particles, so target-feed powdered foods into the current. Needs stable water and steady GH for molting, is highly sensitive to copper, and is peaceful and safe with community tankmates.
Diet
Filter feeder that catches suspended micro-particles with fan-like appendages rather than grazing. Supply good flow plus finely powdered or crushed foods and phytoplankton; frequent hand-sifting of the substrate is a warning sign of underfeeding.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (53)
Possible with care (167)
Avoid (51)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
There is no reliable way to sex this species by eye. That is the honest answer, not a gap in our data.
All the methods, with diagramsAlso in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Vampire Shrimp need?
- A Vampire Shrimp needs an aquarium of at least 75 litres (19.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Vampire Shrimp need?
- Vampire Shrimp does best at 22–29 °C (71.6–84.2 °F), pH 6.5–7.8 and a general hardness of 6–20 °dGH.
- Is the Vampire Shrimp suitable for beginners?
- Vampire Shrimp is a demanding species best attempted with some experience — it needs stable, closely watched conditions to thrive.