Bamboo Shrimp Species Overview
Bamboo Shrimp are one of the largest freshwater shrimp species that are increasingly found in freshwater tanks as keeping invertebrates is becoming popular for aquarists looking to diversify their tanks.
These shrimp are native to Southeast Asia and are commonly sighted on islands such as Sri Lanka, mainland India, and the Samoan Islands.
You may find them at your local store under the guise of Singapore Flower Shrimp, Fan Shrimp, Asian Filter Feeding Shrimp, Wood Shrimp, or Singapore Shrimp. Just know that these are one and all essentially the same.
Two types of species are found within the genus: Atyopsis moluccensis, which is the smaller of the two, and Atyposis spinipes, which is slightly larger in size and is differentiated by more teeth on the underside of the rostrum. They can often get mixed up, but both readily breed in salt water and then flourish in normal freshwater aquariums.
Bamboo Shrimp Behavior
Bamboo Shrimp are excellent neighbors to their fellow aquatic species.
They are generally peaceful and have a non-aggressive nature. They are usually on a mission to filter feed at all times and have a very specific and unique way of doing so.
These shrimp tend to keep to themselves. However, they can thrive individually or in groups in a tank. This makes them an excellent option to include in your tank community due to their amicable nature.
What makes them a great addition to any tank is their colorful expressions that vary depending on their temperament at the time.
Bamboo shrimp are filter feeders and filter their food using their ‘gill fans’ from the tank water itself, so they may be observed in multiple levels of the tank and are happy to extend their turf from top to bottom. They feed on algae and leftover fish food as well as supplemented invertebrate fish food, so they are excellent for water cleanliness.
Being crustaceans, they molt on a regular basis, on average, every three months. Crustaceans need a strong shell or exoskeleton to protect their organs, so this is a necessary process. Do not be alarmed if you see a discarded shell on the bottom of your tank, and this is actually a good thing!
It’s good to keep an eye out for Bamboo Shrimp who seem to be hiding as they may be about to molt at this time. This is a time in their life cycle when their protection is vulnerable to predators. If the behavior continues, this could be a sign of other health issues, so it should be monitored.
Expelled shells can sometimes be eaten by your tank community for nutrients, but if they don’t, you should remove them after a few days. Molted shells are a good sign that your shrimp have adequate nutrition and are growing in a healthy environment, so when you see them give yourself a pat on the back.
Bamboo Shrimp Lifespan
You should expect healthy and well-raised Bamboo Shrimp to live for approximately 2 years. There are occasional exceptions where they may survive even longer.
What may become apparent if you are importing an entire group to a tank is that not all will survive the transfer. They are sensitive and can be susceptible to stress and shock from new water conditions, so bear that in mind and don’t let that put you off from bringing in new Bamboo Shrimp to your tank community in the future.
If you are purchasing personally in-store, ensure that all limbs and antennae are present and correct. Any indication of poor health or condition should be a red flag for a successful transition to your tank.
Bamboo Shrimp Appearance
A typical Bamboo Shrimp has six abdominal segments, a tail is 2-3 inches in length, and has a pale stripe down the length of its back. Their overall shape is what most people know a shrimp to look like, so there is not a lot of differentiation here from the norm.
Color-wise, they are normally reddish-brown, but as mentioned before, their color can vary, and shades of green or orange can present dependent on stress levels and the environment.
Males are slimmer and have first limbs that are claw-like, which are used in mating. Females may have larger abdomen shapes associated with egg-laying and reproduction.
In order to obtain algae from their environment, these shrimp utilize their gill ‘fans’ to catch passing algae from fast-flowing water passing by. This means you should have a good filter flow rate in your tank to ensure these crustaceans don’t miss out on the amount they need to survive and thrive.
Bamboo Shrimp Habitat and Tank Requirements
In the wild, Bamboo Shrimp reside in a tropical climate. Their normal habitat is a slow or moderate flowing stream or river. The water is usually slightly alkaline and receives plenty of natural light conditions.
In order to replicate these natural habitat conditions, let’s take a look at what you will need for optimal health and life expectancy.
Tank conditions
Plentiful plants and rocks are a foundation for happy Bamboo Shrimp. They enjoy sheltered areas and are prone to hiding behaviors.
Because of how they feed on passing algae and other fish food, they enjoy perching on vantage points with which to gather maximum food within the water flow.
The ideal substrate would be sand, as it is inherently popular with other tropical tank mates, but gravel is a solid substitute.
They ideally require a plethora of rocky conditions on the floor as well as abundant plant life so they can perch and feed on the water flow nearby.
If possible, and if the conditions permit for your tank community, a sponge filter would make an ideal setting for Bamboo Shrimp to feed from the constant current to the filter intake.
Water conditions should be noted and maintained as follows:
- a pH of 6.5-8
- Water hardness between 0-10are fit dKH
- Temperature between 68-85 ºF (20-29ºC)
Tank size
For a 10 gallon tank (38L), you can accommodate a single Bamboo Shrimp, but an ideal volume is closer to 20 gallons.
Every additional shrimp added successfully to the mix, however, should be afforded an additional 20 gallons (38L) of territory.
Happy and healthy invertebrates need a species-appropriate density, especially in a tank environment where there is no alternative escape!
Choosing Tank Mates for Bamboo Shrimp
It’s really important to take stock of what is best for the species you choose to care for as an aquarist when considering tank mates.
Educating yourself and doing the homework necessary to have a harmonious environment is a key aspect of being their caretaker.
With that said, Bamboo Shrimp are an incredibly amicable bunch, so it makes choosing tank mates a breeze.
They are fantastic to integrate into an existing invertebrate community on the tank ground level and can make for a more visually interesting component than other water filtering species.
As far as fish go, you would ideally like to stick to small or medium-sized inhabitants that don’t think of the shrimp as food.
Remember to consider species that require similar water conditions to ensure that the chemistry is compatible. Reputable retailers should be able to advise if you are uncertain about bringing a new breed to the tank party!
Some excellent fish tank mate pairings for Bamboo Shrimp are:
Diversifying your bottom tank layer is a great way to add interest and variety to your tank both visually and ecologically. Mixing it up with a variety of plant life is also an ideal habitat inclusion for Bamboo Shrimp. They can be secretive and enjoy hiding, particularly around molting time. So do endeavor to provide ample terrain that allows for reclusive behavior when necessary.
It’s also a good idea to add in other types of species to your habitat like Assassin or Nerve Snails, or even Amano or Ghost Shrimp, which also partner well.
Avoid crayfish or other unsuitable invertebrates which may consider your Bamboo Shrimp as food for thought. Research any species before introduction to your community.
Bamboo Shrimp Health Issues
Helpfully, Bamboo Shrimp do not harbor any independent diseases or well-known conditions causing any major effect on their health.
However, saying that they are completely capable of picking up and transferring diseases just like any other fish or aquatic species. This means that the transfer of any new inhabitants into your aquatic community could make your existing species susceptible to whatever a new tank mate is bringing along with it from a past residence.
One thing to note is if you are using any chemicals or treatments in the tank, you must ensure that it is copper-free. Copper is universally toxic to invertebrates and will decimate your community, so it needs to be avoided.
Bamboo Shrimp Breeding
Unfortunately, breeding Bamboo Shrimp is not an undertaking for anyone less than the ultra-experienced. Unless you have experience breeding shrimp, Bamboo Shrimp are best left to the experts in this field.
This is largely due to the fact that although these shrimp reside in freshwater, they breed near brackish water. Brackish water is water that is neither completely fresh nor fully saline. Instead, it occurs where there is a mixing of the two like in areas such as an estuary.
In order for the juveniles to develop, they require this special mix of fresh and saline waters. What renders this process difficult to reproduce in tank conditions is that the adults do not survive in brackish water. What to do?
This means that the transfer and acclimatization of larvae are rather tricky.
You would need to have a 1:1 ratio of male to female shrimp to breed successfully if the specified conditions could be met.
Females can carry a few thousand eggs on the surface of their abdomen for more than a month. As they grow and develop, they turn brown and eventually hatch into larvae that will float and need to be transferred to brackish water conditions.
In addition, you will ideally need to be present to successfully transfer the larvae quickly to a separate environment as they will otherwise perish within 1-3 days if left in freshwater for too long.
Experts recommend the use of a sponge filter to prevent immature larvae from being swept into the filter, which will only hamper your efforts for a tricky breeding program!
Larvae normally metamorphose after a 90 day period which is easily identified by the forward swimming posture.
Another layer of difficulty is their reintroduction to the main tank. Any aquarist will need to gradually decrease saline levels before a full transfer to the home tank.
So as you can see, there are a number of important considerations to think over before deciding to try and breed Bamboo Shrimp. Anyone interested in breeding shrimp would do well to investigate Ghost Shrimp or Cherry Shrimp who don’t have as many impediments for the first-time breeder.
Conclusion
The ‘bottom line’ is that Bamboo Shrimp make ideal bottom layer tank mates for both fish and crustaceans alike. Their friendly and non-intrusive nature tends to lead them towards peaceful coexistence with their aquarium friends and can add a dose of interest to the hobbyist looking to introduce crustaceans to their tank mix.
Bamboo Shrimp also provide a huge tank benefit by cleaning the tank just by existing there. Their feeding nature means that water condition and cleanliness will benefit from their presence in your tank community which is an added bonus.
These shrimp make an easy addition to any tank, given their friendly behavior, and should make a welcome contribution to your aquarium.
