Explore the Caridina Japonica Amano Shrimp
The Caridina japonica Amano shrimp is famous for a reason. This tiny creature packs a big punch. It is an ideal shrimp for any aquarium and is a major player in maintaining aquarium health. This freshwater shrimp is a filtration expert that works to keep aquariums clean and peaceful, earning it a big reputation in the aquarium community.
The Caridina japonica Amano shrimp is not your typical ornamental aquarium shrimp. It rivals any professional cleaning service you can hire to do the upkeep on your tank.
What is Caridina japonica Amano Shrimp?
Found along the rivers and streams of Japan and Taiwan is the Caridina japonica Amano shrimp, or what we like to call the Amano shrimp. Thanks to the famous aquascaper, Takashi Amano, these shrimp started their journey in the aquarium hobby for their algae cleaning prowess in planted aquariums.
Another bonus, these shrimp only reach lengths of approximately 2 inches (5 cm) and sport a translucent body with some fun patterns. Their simple appearance quickly fades in importance when you see their extraordinary contributions to an aquarium ecosystem.
Why Amano Shrimp Have Gained a Following
The Caridina japonica Amano shrimp warrants praise for many different reasons, but their capacity for algae consumption may justify the following they have gained. In contrast to many different species that can be found in an aquarium, Amano shrimp tend to consume, and thus are useful for the removal of, different species of algae that are even difficult to remove by hand.
Some of these algae are:
Hair algae
Green spot algae
Algae that forms biofilm
Algae that is green and soft, that can be found on glass and plants
Because of these characteristics, a large portion of the aquarist community views Amano shrimp as a necessary species for a crew that keeps an aquarium.
Behavior
The Caridina japonica Amano shrimp is nonaggressive and peaceful. For that reason, they can be housed with many different families of fish and invertebrates. They tend to climb the plants in the aquarium and forage for food as a large part of their activity.
Amano shrimp are a good substitute for species of shrimp that tend to hide because of their active nature during the day.
That said, their activity does render them more vulnerable to the larger fish that will eat them, so they should be kept with fish that are of a moderate size.
Conditions of the Aquarium
Because they adapt easily to different water conditions, it is very easy to keep the Caridina japonica Amano shrimp healthy compared to other species of shrimp.
Optimal conditions consist of variables like:
Temperature: 20–26°C (68–79°F)
pH level: 6.5–7.5
Clean, well-filtered water
Stable environment without the presence of ammonia or nitrite
Amano shrimp are sensitive to slow changes in water parameters, so gradual changes are the best approach.
Diet and Feeding Habits
Although the Caridina japonica Amano shrimp is the algae eater, it is an omnivore shrimp. A well-established aquarium will cause them to eat all of the biofilm, excess fish food, and plant debris.
However, a tank that is not abundant in algae may require external supplementation. The best options are:
Algae wafers
Blanched zucchini or spinach
Shrimp pellets
Biofilm-based foods
Due to their foraging nature, there is no food that is wasted, making the tank environment cleaner.
Breeding Challenges
An interesting fact about the Caridina japonica Amano shrimp is that they cannot be bred in home aquariums. Although females may carry eggs, in order for them to develop, the larvae require brackish water, which cannot be achieved in a standard home aquarium.
For this reason, the majority of Amano shrimp located in the aquarium trade are wild-caught or bred in a controlled environment. This makes them different than the remaining freshwater shrimp species that can be bred in captivity.
Benefits in Aquariums
Having the Caridina japonica Amano shrimp in your aquarium is smart for various reasons:
Natural pest control
Clearer aquarium water and better shrimp tank water quality
Small bioload
Peaceful inhabitants
Natural shrimp tank decor
They help keep balance in the shrimp tank, reducing the need for cleaning and chemicals.
Care Tips for Beginners
Amano shrimp are a good choice for beginner shrimp keepers. Some simple care tips:
No copper-based shrimp tank meds
Shrimp tank decor should include hiding spots
Keep the water parameters the same
Take them out of the shrimp tank slowly to avoid shock
Use a lid for the shrimp tank since they are known to climb and jump out
Amano shrimp can be a benefit to your shrimp tank for years.
Final Thoughts
The Caridina japonica Amano shrimp are small, but in the freshwater aquarium world, they are a huge benefit as a natural pest control, peaceful aquarium inhabitant, and scavenger.
Amano shrimp are a must for shrimp tank enthusiasts to keep the shrimp tank healthy and balanced, while adding shrimp tank decor they clean.
In an aquascaping world the Amano shrimp deserve the title of the shrimp tank hero.
