Amano shrimp care guide
Also called: Yamato shrimp, Japanese swamp shrimp, Yamato numa ebi, Algae shrimp, Caridina japonica
Amano shrimp are hardy shrimp from Japan that grow to about 2 inches (5 cm) and are famous for eating algae, including hair algae. They're peaceful, live for several years and suit most community tanks, but they can't breed in fresh water and will climb out of an open tank.
Amano shrimp need a tank of at least 10 gallons (38 L), a group of 3 or more, and water at 20–27°C (68–81°F) with a pH of 6.5–7.8. They grow to about 4.5 cm (1.8 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with amano shrimpSee all tank mates
Amano shrimp quick facts
| Scientific name | Caridina multidentata |
|---|---|
| Family | Atyidae |
| Origin | Fast-flowing coastal streams of Japan and Taiwan |
| Adult size | 4.5 cm (1.8 in) |
| Minimum tank | 10 gallons (38 L) |
| Temperature | 20–27°C (68–81°F) |
| pH | 6.5–7.8 |
| Hardness (GH) | 6–12 dGH |
| Group size | 3 or more (group) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Bottom |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Easy |
| Lifespan | 2–5 years |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
- Known jumper: keep a tight-fitting lid.
Tank setup
A 10-gallon (38 L) tank suits a small group, and they also do well in larger community tanks. Fit a tight lid and cover gaps around cords and tubing, because they climb out, especially in a new or unstable tank. Plants, wood and rocks give them surfaces to graze.
How many amano shrimp in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits amano shrimp is a 10 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Amano shrimp (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | 3–57 |
| 15 gallon | 3–85 |
| 20 gallon | 3–114 |
| 20 gallon long | 3–114 |
| 29 gallon | 3–165 |
| 40 gallon | 3–228 |
| 55 gallon | 3–314 |
| 75 gallon | 3–428 |
| 125 gallon | 3–713 |
What you need for amano shrimp
Sized for a 10 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 3 amano shrimp. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 10 gallon aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 50 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 74 °F (23.5 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Sponge filter for 20 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)Gentle flow, about 30–50 GPH, suits shrimp and snails, which prefer slow water. Needs a small air pump. How to choose
- About 25 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 20 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for amano shrimp
- Shrimp food (opens Amazon in a new tab)Shrimp mostly graze, so feed lightly.
- Java moss or other live moss (opens Amazon in a new tab)Shrimp graze on the biofilm that grows on moss, and baby shrimp hide in it. How to choose
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Water parameters
Keep them at 20–27 °C (68–81 °F), pH 6.5–7.8 and 6–12 dGH. The cooler half of that range helps them live longer. They need minerals to molt, so add a remineralizer if your water is very soft. Copper kills them, so avoid copper medications and check fertilizer labels.
Best tank mates for amano shrimp
These popular species share amano shrimp' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 72 good matches.
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 20–27°C (68–81°F)
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Guppy
5 cm (2 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Zebra danio
5 cm (2 in) · 18–25°C (64–77°F)
Avoid keeping amano shrimp with
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Amano shrimp 20–27°C (68–81°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Pea puffer: Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
Feeding
They eat algae, biofilm, leftover food and decaying leaves. They are best at hair and thread algae and some will work on black beard algae, but they do little against hard spot algae on glass. In a clean tank, add shrimp pellets, algae wafers or blanched vegetables, and feed lightly if you want them to keep grazing algae.
Behavior
Peaceful and busy, picking at every surface all day. They are safe with plants, snails and other shrimp, though they often grab food from smaller cherry shrimp. Larger fish such as medium to big cichlids, goldfish and some barbs may eat them. A group of three or more is bolder and spreads the algae work.
Breeding
They don't breed in an ordinary aquarium. Females carry eggs in fresh water, but the larvae need full-strength salt water within about two days of hatching and take over a month to turn into shrimp. Females are larger, with a dashed line along the side, while males show evenly spaced dots.
Tips from experienced keepers
- Cover every gap in the lid. Amanos wander and can climb out along cords and airline tubing.
- Cut back feeding for a few days if you want them to focus on algae.
- Acclimate them slowly. New amanos are sensitive to sudden changes in water.
- Keep copper out of the tank. Even small amounts in medicine or fertilizer can be deadly.
Frequently asked questions
How many amano shrimp per gallon?
A common rule is about one amano for every 2 gallons (8 L) of water. For algae control, three to five in a 10–20 gallon tank is a good start.
Can amano shrimp breed in a freshwater tank?
They mate and carry eggs in fresh water, but the larvae die unless they are moved into salt water soon after hatching. In a normal aquarium you won't get baby amanos.
Will amano shrimp eat my plants?
No. They eat algae, biofilm and leftovers, not healthy plants. If they start picking at soft plants, they usually need more food.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.