The Amano Shrimp is often credited as starting the Dwarf Shrimp hobby in The United States. The Amano Shrimp was introduced to the American aquarium hobby around 1994. Takashi Amano, the author of The Natural Aquarium and noted planted tank author, wrote in his book about the effectiveness of the Amano Shrimp in controlling Algae in the planted tank. Many planted tank aquarist then started to stock them in their tanks in America and their popularity grew from there in the late 1990’s.

Amano Shrimp Care

Amano Shrimp are rather simple to care for in the Home Aquarium. Undemanding when it comes to water parameters, as long as pH, hardness, and temperature extremes are avoided in a well established aquarium the Amano Shrimp will grow healthy and happy.

Amano Shrimp Diet

Amano Shrimp are some of the best algae eating Dwarf Shrimp in the hobby. When the Amano Shrimp is kept in larger groups it is often necessary to add extra food for the shrimp. As with most other Dwarf Shrimp, the Amano Shrimp will happily accept food intended for bottom feeding fish and any aquatic invertebrates.

Amano Shrimp Breeding

The Amano Shrimp is one of the more difficult shrimp to successfully breed in the home aquarium. The young shrimp do not hatch as small versions of the adults, like a Red Cherry Shrimp does, but they hatch as larva. These larva require salt water to grow to metamorphosis and become freshwater shrimp again. The easiest way to determine the sex of an Amano Shrimp is their lowest stripe along the length of the body. Male shrimp have a line of separate dots while females have dashes almost appearing to be a broken line.

Amano Shrimp Behavior

Generally a non-aggressive Dwarf Shrimp, the Amano Shrimp can be quite a greedy feeder. They do not harm any other aquarium inhabitants, but will often steal food from smaller shrimp. When there are no predators present in an aquarium the Amano Shrimp will be quite active, foraging and cleaning the aquarium of algae.

Amano Shrimp Notes

As with all aquatic invertebrates it is important to make sure copper does not get into the aquarium. Copper is toxic to all Dwarf Shrimp. Many medications contain elevated levels of copper, so it is recommended not to medicate an aquarium with Dwarf Shrimp in it.

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