Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata)

This particular species of shrimp is indigenous to East Asia. They are known to inhabit mainland Japan, Taiwan, the Ryuku Islands and the Korean peninsula. The first person to rear them on a commercial basis in captivity was the famous Japanese aquarium enthusiast Takashi Amano.

Alternative names

Amano Shrimp, Algae-eating Shrimp, Yamato Shrimp, Japonica Shrimp, Algae Shrimp, Japanese Swamp Shrimp, Japanese Marsh Shrimp, Amamoto Shrimp, Yamato Numaebi

Synonyms

Caridina japonica was its senior synonym until September 2006.^[1]

Sexing

The male has a row of distinct dots along its lower side. The female has this row as more of a broken line, and is also slightly bigger. See picture below.

Diet

They are renown for being algae eaters but when keeping them in larger groups, it is typically essential to provide them with extra food. Like other species of Dwarf Shrimp, the Amano Shrimp will eagerly accept food formulated for for bottom feeding fish and any aquatic invertebrates.

Breeding

To breed these shrimp, salt water conditions are required for their fry (or zoes as is their correct name) as well as special feeding. Breeding of this species is considered fairly difficult as the zoes need to be gradually introduced to salt water and then back to freshwater. See external link below.

Several aquarists have claimed to breed this species in freshwater.^[2] But as yet there is no definitive evidence to this. One shrimp taxonomist Werner Klotz has postulated that perhaps 1 in 100,000 zoes may survive to adulthood in freshwater if the water chemistry is hard enough and this may be what aquarists have been seeing.^[3]

Environment Specifics

The Amano Shrimp prefers planted aquariums. Slightly soft (GH 6-10dh) water is preferred (if the GH is too low they can't make their carapace). They are extremely sensitive to ammonia and an excess of nitrate, and as such should only be added to a cycled tank. A small level of iodine in the water is recommended to help them moult. This can be supplied via normal fish food or via typical health food shop Kelp tablets.

This shrimp is not sensitive to nitrite levels due to the nature of their blood chemistry.^[4]

Like most shrimp any presence of copper in the water (bar background traces) will kill them.

A tank of at least 10-19 Litres (2.6-5US G.) is considered the minimum and you can stock around one shrimp per 3-5 Litres (0.8-1.3US G.) in that.^[5]

Behaviour

These shrimp are diligent consumers of algae, and are one of the few species available which will consume black brush algae, a particularly troublesome form of red algae. It should be noted, however, that they generally prefer fish food to algae, and will only resort to the latter if the former is unavailable. Also, due to their small size, a large number of them may have to be employed to make a serious impact.

If you see your shrimps at the surface a lot then this is probably due to lack of oxygen or high nitrate levels.

Approximately once a month (depending on diet, age, and environmental factors), the shrimp will moult. During this time, the shrimp will seek out a place to hide while its new shell hardens, for safety reasons. Many inexperienced aquarists jump to conclusions, assuming their unseen shrimp to have been eaten; these fears are short lived however, as they usually reappear after a few days.

Although mostly peaceful in temperament, Amano Shrimp can nevertheless be rather greedy feeders. While they refrain from attacking other aquarium inhabitants, they will not hesitate to steal food from smaller shrimp. In the absence of predators within the aquarium environment, Amano Shrimp will take on a rather active role, foraging and cleaning the aquarium of algae

Pictures

Amano shrimp in an Aquarium
Young Amano shrimp in an Aquarium
Amano shrimp In an Aquarium
Mature female Amano shrimp
Mature shrimp
Closeup of the female Amano shrimp
Closeup of two Male Amano shrimps. Note markings on tail
Closeup of a mature female Amano shrimp
Closeup of a female in berry
Closeup of male and female at play about 10 days prior to female in berry, note that she bucked two other males off consistently and let this one play.
Amano Shrimp with Algae
Caridina Multidentata on driftwood