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Contents
Overview
The Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata, formerly C. japonica) comes from coastal rivers in Japan and Taiwan. It owes its name to aquascaper Takashi Amano, who made it famous as the cleanup crew in his planted tanks. It is translucent with a row of reddish dots and dashes along the sides and reaches about 2 inches (5 cm), much bigger than a cherry shrimp.
It is arguably the most useful shrimp in the hobby: it devours hair algae, leftover food and biofilm without harming plants, and its size lets it live with more fish than dwarf shrimp can. Hardy and active, it suits beginners with a mature tank.
Care and tank setup
It is tough, but like every shrimp it can't handle copper or sudden swings.
- Tank: 10 gallons (40 L) or more for a small group; in large planted tanks people often stock about one per 3-5 gallons for algae control.
- Group: not strictly social, but they act bolder in groups of three or more.
- Acclimation: slow drip. They often arrive stressed from shipping.
- Copper: toxic; be careful with algae treatments and meds.
- Lid: essential. If water quality drops, they try to escape up tubing and cables.
They get along with small to medium peaceful fish (tetras, rasboras, cories, dwarf gouramis). Avoid cichlids, large barbs and anything big enough to swallow them. At feeding time they are pushy and steal food from dwarf shrimp, but they don't attack them.
Feeding
A hungry omnivore. It eats hair algae, soft black beard algae, biofilm and leftovers. In a very clean tank, add shrimp food, sinking wafers and blanched vegetables. Don't starve them "so they eat more algae": a well-fed Amano keeps cleaning, while a starving one may start nibbling very soft plants.
Breeding
Amanos do not breed in fresh water. Females are often seen carrying eggs, but the larvae that hatch need brackish or salt water to develop, just as in their natural cycle between river and sea. In fresh water they die within days. Raising them at home is only possible with dedicated setups of rising salinity and larval food, which is a project for very experienced keepers.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Amano shrimp. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Bristlenose pleco Ancistrus sp. 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Cherry barb Puntius titteya 16 gal (60 L) · 73–81 °F (23–27 °C) 
Nerite snail Neritina natalensis 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Horned nerite snail Clithon corona 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Bronze cory Corydoras aeneus 21 gal (80 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Zebra danio Danio rerio 16 gal (60 L) · 64–77 °F (18–25 °C) 
Guppy Poecilia reticulata 14 gal (54 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Molly Poecilia sphenops 26 gal (100 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Platy Xiphophorus maculatus 16 gal (60 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) 
Harlequin rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha 16 gal (60 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Ember tetra Hyphessobrycon amandae 11 gal (40 L) · 73–82 °F (23–28 °C) 
Neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi 16 gal (60 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Amano shrimp, and why.
- Tiger barb: eats shrimp
- Betta fish: eats shrimp
- Common goldfish: eats shrimp
- Discus: incompatible temperatures, eats shrimp
- Angelfish: eats shrimp
- Yellow lab cichlid: eats shrimp
- Clown loach: eats shrimp
- Oranda goldfish: eats shrimp
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Amano shrimp healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Amano shrimp need?
At least about 40 liters for a group of at least 3 fish. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Amano shrimp need?
Between 18 and 28 °C, with a pH of 6.5 to 8.
What fish can live with the Amano shrimp?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Bristlenose pleco, Cherry barb, Nerite snail, Horned nerite snail and Bronze cory. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
