Amano Shrimp Care: Size, Algae Eating and Tank Mates
Published: 2026-10-27 · FishyKart Blog
The Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata) earned its place in planted tanks because of one man and one habit: the Japanese aquascaper Takashi Amano introduced it to the hobby in the early 1980s for its appetite for hair algae, a job few other cleaners will do. Adults usually reach 1-1.5 inches, large females up to about 2 inches (5 cm), larger than most dwarf shrimp, and the species lives 2-3 years in a stable tank.
Photo: Jolielover - Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
| Parameter | Value |
| Scientific name | Caridina multidentata |
| Adult size | 1-1.5 in, females up to about 2 in (5 cm) |
| Lifespan | 2-3 years |
| Temperature | 70-80°F (21-27°C) |
| pH | 6.5-7.5 |
| Minimum tank | 10 gallons for a small group |
| Diet | Algae, biofilm, leftovers; supplement with sinking food |
| Breeds in freshwater? | No - larvae need brackish water |
Why Amano Shrimp Can't Overrun Your Tank
Amano Shrimp do carry eggs in home aquariums, often visible as a dark green mass under the female's tail, but the hatched larvae need brackish water to develop. In a freshwater tank they die within days, so the colony never grows on its own. That is the opposite of Neocaridina cherry shrimp, which breed freely in freshwater, and it is why Amano Shrimp are bought in groups rather than bred.
What Amano Shrimp Actually Eat
- Hair and thread algae, the reason most people buy them
- Soft green film algae and biofilm on plants and decor
- Leftover fish food and decaying plant matter
- Not reliable against black beard algae or hard green spot algae
A tank that is spotless gives them little to graze. Add a sinking wafer or blanched vegetable two or three times a week so they do not starve once the algae is gone.
Telling Males from Females
Females are larger and show broken dashes along the side, while males are smaller with an even row of dots. A female that has just moulted may release a scent that sends males racing around the tank; this frantic swimming is normal and stops within an hour.
Tank Mates and Hazards
- Safe with peaceful community fish: neon tetras, otocinclus, corydoras, dwarf gouramis
- Risky with fish big enough to swallow them: large cichlids, oscars, goldfish
- Copper in medicines and some fertilisers is toxic to all shrimp; read labels before dosing
- Amano Shrimp climb out of open tanks, especially after a water change; use a lid
Amano and other aquarium shrimp, snails and lobsters are listed in our shrimps, lobsters & snails collection.