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Encyclopedia / Shrimp / Amano shrimp
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Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Amano shrimp

Caridina multidentata · Amano, Japonica shrimp, Algae shrimp, Yamato shrimp

Peaceful, hard-working algae eater.

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3.5 cmAdult size ✓
20–28 °CTemperature ✓
6.5–7.5pH ✓
UnknownSmallest tank ?
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Tank mates
Check your own mix →
Not recommended
  • Tinfoil barb eats animals up to about 5 cm. Amano shrimp only grows to 3.5 cm.
Not recommended
  • Betta eats animals up to about 2.5 cm. Amano shrimp only grows to 3.5 cm.
Not recommended
  • Dwarf gourami eats animals up to about 2.5 cm. Amano shrimp only grows to 3.5 cm.
With conditions
  • Congo tetra will eat baby amano shrimp. Add lots of moss and plants so some survive.
With conditions
  • Tiger barb will eat baby amano shrimp. Add lots of moss and plants so some survive.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

189 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ?Unknown
Group size ?3 or more
Temperament ?Peaceful
Swims at ✓Bottom
Care level ?Easy
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 2.5–3 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful, hard-working algae eater.

Food

Algae, biofilm, leftovers.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Females have a more elongated (dash-like) lower row of dots along the side; males have small, evenly spaced dots.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Larval (needs brackish/salt) ·

Eggs are carried and hatch in fresh water, but the larvae must drift to salt water to develop; in culture they survive best at high salinity (about 17-34 ppt, near full seawater), fed on microalgae, and metamorphose in about 22-25 days.

Pairing

Buy 6-10 adults. Females are larger and have dots on the sides.

Setup

Hatching larvae must go to brackish or salt water. Needs a separate larval tank with 30 ppt salt and a lot of care.

What starts it

Females release larvae when eggs are ready; they carry them 4-6 weeks. They do not trigger by water change.

Eggs

Females carry 1000-2000 tiny eggs. Larvae hatch in 4-6 weeks and drift into the water.

Raising the fry

Larvae need brackish water and green water algae, then rotifers or tiny foods. After about 30-60 days they shift to fresh water.

Common mistakes
  • Putting larvae in freshwater and losing them
  • Keeping them in a bare tank
  • Poor water quality in the larval tank
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionJapan and Taiwan
Rivers and lakesCoastal streams of southern Japan and Taiwan
HabitatCoastal streams and rivers
Native rangeAbout 800 km across
See it on the world map

Plants that suit it

BucephalandraJava mossChristmas moss

The story of the amano shrimp

Introduced to the aquarium world by aquascaper Takashi Amano in the early 1980s. Its larvae must reach salt water to develop, so it does not breed in freshwater tanks.

American zoologist William Stimpson described this shrimp in 1860. Japanese aquascaper Takashi Amano made it famous in the 1980s by using it to keep algae under control in his planted aquariums. Its tiny larvae drift to the sea to develop, so breeding it at home is difficult.

First described by William Stimpson in 1860. Named for Common name after Japanese aquascaper Takashi Amano.

  • Its larvae need salt water.
  • It is famous for eating algae.
  • It is one of the larger dwarf shrimp, reaching about 5 cm.

Sources

10 facts checked with sources