A Freshwater Shrimp tank can provide countless hours of interesting entertainment. Freshwater Shrimp can be scavengers that search for debris and uneaten food. Or they can be algae eating shrimp tirelessly scouring hard surfaces for edible soft algae buildup. Other Freshwater Shrimp can be filter feeding shrimp taking edible material right from the water.
Freshwater Shrimp Can Be Sensitive
Freshwater Shrimp can be pretty sensitive, so protect against sudden changes in water temperature and abrupt shifts in water parameters. Also, be extremely careful when using additives, supplements, plant fertilizer and medications. And as will all freshwater shrimp, avoid copper, as copper can be harmful or even fatal to them.
Freshwater Shrimp Tank Mates
Some Freshwater Shrimp may be aggressive with other shrimp or small community fish, but at the same time be extremely vulnerable with larger more aggressive tank mates, so be sure to check with the clerk at the store for potential compatibility issues before purchasing.
Freshwater Shrimp Video
Freshwater Shrimp Images
Common Types of Freshwater Shrimp
Amano Shrimp: An Amano Shrimp, also known as Japanese Marsh Shrimp, Japanese Swamp Shrimp and Algae Eating Shrimp, among other names, is a fascinating freshwater shrimp to keep. An Amano Shrimp is an industrious tank cleaner and algae eating shrimp that will help clean debris and otherwise uneaten food from building up on the tank bottom. Amano Shrimp do well in living in groups of others of their kind, as well as with most freshwater snails and other non-aggressive community tank mates like Cory Catfish and Otocinclus Catfish. Amano Shrimp also like aquarium plants.
Bamboo Shrimp: A Bamboo Shrimp, also known as Wood Shrimp, Asian Filter Feeding Shrimp and Flower Shrimp among other names, is a popular freshwater shrimp. A Bamboo Shrimp is a filter feeding shrimp that uses it’s “web-like” mitts to filter tiny bits of edible matter from the water column. As with all filter feeding shrimp, a Bamboo Shrimp needs a constantly moving current of aquarium water circulating throughout the tank in order to filter out enough to eat. Bamboo shrimp are peaceful, calm and non-aggressive in nature, needing to be with tank mates that are not going to attack them.
Ghost Shrimp: A Ghost Shrimp, also sold under the name of Glass Shrimp, is a freshwater shrimp that is often thought of as a feeder. But under the right tank conditions Ghost Shrimp can be a fascinating freshwater shrimp to keep in their own right. A Ghost Shrimp has translucent, almost clear torsos and tails offering a peek into the inner workings of their bodies. Ghost Shrimp legs and feelers are accented by bright orange bands and have dark eyes. Ghost Shrimp are good scavengers and they are almost always picking through the tank looking for bits of food to eat. A Ghost Shrimp likes to be in tanks with live plants and should be kept away from species that may eat them.
Red Cherry Shrimp: A Red Cherry Shrimp, or simply called Cherry Shrimp, is a freshwater shrimp that really adds a bight red accent color to an aquarium. Cherry Shrimp are small shrimp that like tanks with live plants offering interesting places to explore and safe places to hide. Red Cherry Shrimp spend hours on end eating very small bits of food and soft algae buildup from hard surfaces. Because Red Cherry Shrimp are small and defenseless, they need to be kept away from aggressive species that will eat them.
Vampire Shrimp: A Vampire Shrimp, also known as Viper Shrimp, African Filter Feeding Shrimp, African Fan Feeding Shrimp, among other names, is a filter feeding freshwater shrimp similar to Bamboo Shrimp. Vampire Shrimp use web-like feeding mitts to filter tiny bits of edible matter from the constantly moving aquarium water. Bamboo Shrimp feed with their feeding mitts extended out waiting for water to bring food to them. But Vampire Shrimp seem to take a more active approach. They fan their feeding mitts in a forward and downward motion to help collect food from the water. Vampire Shrimp are not aggressive. They have no real means to defend themselves except for their shells. Therefore, Vampire Shrimp need to be kept with other species that will not try to hurt or eat them.
Whisker Shrimp: A Whisker Shrimp, also commonly referred to as Indian Whisker Shrimp, is a freshwater shrimp. Whisker Shrimp look very similar to Ghost Shrimp, with both having nearly clear, transparent bodies, torsos and tails. But Whisker Shrimp are larger than Ghost Shrimp with longer bodies and longer feelers. They do not have the distinctive orange bands at the base of their feelers or on their front legs. Whisker Shrimp are great scavengers that are constantly eating, cleaning debris from the tank bottom. Whisker Shrimp are particularly fond of Marimo Moss Balls. They can spend hours picking through their fine green fibers for tiny bits of food.
A Whisker Shrimp can be more aggressive than Ghost Shrimp. They will often pick on Ghost Shrimp if kept together in the same tank. This is especially true if the tank is overcrowded. Whisker Shrimp can also bully other freshwater shrimp, but seem to be good tank mates with freshwater snails. Nerite Snails, Mystery Snails, Gold Inca Snails, Ivory Snails, Ramshorn Snails, Rabbit Snails and Japanese Trapdoor Snails good. Whisker Shrimp can be aggressive with other small species of shrimp and small fish. But they are no match for roughens like Cichlids or Goldfish.