Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata)

05 November 2026

159

The Amano Shrimp, Caridina multidentata, is a translucent freshwater shrimp valued for grazing algae and biofilm. It is generally peaceful, adaptable and suitable for planted community aquariums with stable, clean water. Adults live in freshwater, but successful reproduction requires a separate brackish or marine larval stage, so routine captive breeding is substantially more demanding than everyday care. The supplied images are consistent with this species, although color and pattern vary among individuals.

Taxonomy and identification

Amano Shrimp is the established aquarium name for Caridina multidentata, a decapod crustacean in the family Atyidae. The body is mostly translucent or grayish, often marked with brown to reddish-brown spots, dashes or a dorsal line. Females are usually larger and deeper-bodied than males. Color intensity can change with background, diet, stress and individual variation.

Natural habitat

Caridina multidentata is associated with clear, oxygenated freshwater streams and rivers in Japan and nearby parts of East Asia. Adults graze on algae, aufwuchs and organic particles on rocks, wood and vegetation. In nature, newly hatched larvae are carried downstream toward brackish or marine-influenced water before later developing into juvenile shrimp that return to freshwater.

Aquarium setup and water parameters

Use a mature, fully cycled aquarium with gentle to moderate circulation, good oxygenation and plenty of surfaces for grazing. Plants, moss, wood and smooth rock provide cover and biofilm. A lid or covered filter intake helps prevent escapes. Aim for 18-28 °C and pH 6.5-7.5, with stable hardness and mineral content sufficient for normal shell formation. Avoid ammonia and nitrite, and keep nitrate low through regular maintenance. Acclimate slowly, especially after transport.

Feeding

Amano Shrimp should obtain much of its diet from naturally growing biofilm, soft algae and fine organic matter. Supplement with small portions of quality shrimp foods, algae wafers or blanched vegetables such as zucchini or spinach. Remove uneaten food promptly. They are useful grazers, but they are not a substitute for balanced feeding, water quality or manual control of persistent algae.

Temperament and tank mates

Adults are peaceful and can be kept in groups. Suitable companions include other peaceful, similarly sized community fish and nonaggressive freshwater invertebrates. Avoid large, predatory, highly boisterous or fin-nipping fish, which may eat or continually harass them. Newly hatched larvae and small juveniles are especially vulnerable, so a dedicated species aquarium gives the best survival odds.

Molting and mineral needs

Growth occurs through periodic molting. A shrimp may become less visible before shedding, and the discarded transparent exoskeleton is often mistaken for a dead animal. Provide stable water chemistry, hiding places and adequate dietary minerals rather than making sudden mineral or pH corrections. Shrimp are soft and vulnerable immediately after a molt, so cover and calm tank mates are important. Remove a carcass only after checking carefully for movement.

Breeding and larval development

A female carries numerous eggs beneath her abdomen and fans them until hatching. The released larvae cannot normally complete development in ordinary freshwater. Successful breeding requires collecting larvae and raising them in carefully controlled brackish or marine water with suitable food, aeration and gradual transitions; the exact salinity and procedure depend on the culture method. After metamorphosis, juveniles can be acclimated back to freshwater. Consequently, adults may breed in a community aquarium while few or no young survive.

Shrimp info

Size: 3-5 cm
Difficulty level: Beginner-Intermediate
Temperature : 18-28 °C
pH: 6.5-7.5

Related on Shrimps

Leave your comments

Latest on Shrimps

Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata)

The Amano Shrimp, Caridina multidentata, is a transparent to grayish freshwater shrimp marked with brown or reddish-brown spots and dashes. It is valued for grazing on algae and biofilm, but it is not a fully freshwater-breeding species: its larvae require brackish or marine conditions. Stable water, mature surfaces, shelter, and peaceful tank mates are important for long-term care.
Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata)

The Amano shrimp is a transparent, spotted freshwater shrimp formerly widely sold as Caridina japonica and now generally identified as Caridina multidentata. It is valued for grazing algae and biofilm without usually harming healthy plants. Adults are peaceful and hardy when water quality is stable, but successful breeding requires brackish or marine conditions for the larval stage. The supplied images show the typical translucent greenish-brown, dark-spotted appearance.
Algae-Eating Shrimp Set: Likely Amano Shrimp

This aquarium-library entry concerns a group of algae-grazing shrimp that appear to be Amano shrimp, Caridina multidentata. The supplied source label is a trade description rather than a confirmed scientific identification, so the care guidance should be verified against the seller’s species information. These peaceful freshwater shrimp are valued for grazing algae and biofilm, but successful breeding requires a separate brackish larval stage.
Yellow Fire Shrimp

Yellow Fire Shrimp are a selectively bred yellow color form of the freshwater cherry shrimp, generally identified as Neocaridina davidi. They are peaceful, adaptable scavengers suited to mature planted aquariums with stable water chemistry. The supplied trade name and images support this identification, although the exact grade, lineage, and locality cannot be confirmed. Their bright yellow to golden coloration is strongest in well-conditioned adults and may vary between individuals.
Red Sakura Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)

Red Sakura Shrimp are a selectively bred red color form of the freshwater dwarf shrimp commonly traded as Neocaridina davidi. They are peaceful scavengers that graze on algae, biofilm and small food particles. Their hardiness, uncomplicated breeding and modest adult size make them suitable for mature planted aquariums. The supplied trade label and images support a red Neocaridina-type shrimp, but exact line quality and taxonomy cannot be confirmed from them alone.
Red Rili Shrimp

Red Rili Shrimp are a selectively bred color form of the freshwater Neocaridina davidi complex, recognized by red body sections separated by translucent or pale areas. They are generally peaceful, adaptable aquarium scavengers that graze on biofilm and accept prepared foods. The supplied trade label identifies this shipment as Red Rili Shrimp, but the image and label alone cannot confirm a precise strain history or species-level identification.
Red Cherry Shrimp

Red Cherry Shrimp are a selectively bred red color form of Neocaridina davidi, a small freshwater shrimp suited to mature planted aquariums. They graze on biofilm, algae and soft food, and can reproduce readily when water quality is stable. The supplied images show red shrimp, but some appear variably patterned; exact grade, lineage and species identity should therefore be confirmed with the seller.
Orange Rili Shrimp

Orange Rili Shrimp are a selectively bred color form of the freshwater dwarf shrimp commonly sold as Neocaridina davidi. Their translucent body is interrupted by orange patches, often concentrated on the head, abdomen, and tail. They are peaceful, adaptable scavengers suited to mature planted aquariums. Because trade names can be applied inconsistently, exact lineage and grading may vary, but the pictured shrimp are consistent with an Orange Rili Neocaridina form.
Orange Fire Shrimp

Orange Fire Shrimp is a selectively bred orange color form of the freshwater dwarf shrimp commonly identified in the aquarium trade as Neocaridina davidi. The supplied trade label does not provide a verified scientific identification, so this article treats the shrimp as likely N. davidi rather than a confirmed specimen-level determination. It is a peaceful algae grazer and scavenger suited to mature planted aquariums with stable, mineral-rich water and careful protection from predatory tank mates.
Neon Yellow Fire Shrimp

Neon Yellow Fire Shrimp are selectively bred freshwater dwarf shrimp recognized for their strong yellow to golden coloration. The supplied images are consistent with a yellow Neocaridina-type shrimp, commonly traded as Neocaridina davidi, although exact strain and species cannot be confirmed from photographs or the source label alone. They are peaceful algae grazers suited to mature, planted aquariums with stable water chemistry and gentle filtration.
Green Jade Shrimp

Green Jade Shrimp are a selectively bred green color form commonly associated with Neocaridina davidi, a small freshwater dwarf shrimp. Their exact line and taxonomic identity cannot be confirmed from the supplied trade label or images alone. They are generally peaceful, adaptable aquarium animals that graze on biofilm and accept prepared foods. Stable, mature aquarium conditions, mineral availability, and protection from predatory tank mates are more important than chasing narrowly defined water values.
Carbon Rili Shrimp

Carbon Rili Shrimp are selectively bred freshwater dwarf shrimp recognized by contrasting dark and translucent body sections, often with blue or pale areas and small dark markings. The trade name describes a color pattern rather than a formally defined species or taxonomic rank. They are commonly treated as a Caridina cantonensis complex form, but exact parentage can vary between lines. Stable, clean water, mature biofilm and gentle tank mates are central to long-term care and successful breeding.
Blue Black Rili Shrimp

Blue Black Rili Shrimp are a selectively bred color form of the freshwater dwarf shrimp commonly identified as Neocaridina davidi. They combine dark blue to black body sections with translucent or blue-clear areas, creating an irregular rili pattern. The trade name is not a formal taxonomic designation, and strain quality can vary, so exact lineage should be confirmed with the breeder or seller. They are peaceful, adaptable scavengers suited to mature planted aquariums.
Blue Jelly Shrimp

Blue Jelly Shrimp are a selectively bred blue color form of the freshwater Neocaridina davidi species, commonly kept in planted community aquariums. Their translucent blue bodies can vary in intensity, and some individuals show clear areas or darker blue markings. The supplied images are consistent with this trade name, but color names are not formal taxonomic classifications. They are peaceful, adaptable scavengers that reproduce readily when water quality, shelter, and mineral availability are stable.
Blue Dream Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)

Blue Dream Shrimp are a selectively bred blue color form of the freshwater species Neocaridina davidi. The supplied images show intensely blue individuals in a planted aquarium, but photographs alone cannot confirm a particular commercial grade or lineage. They are generally peaceful, adaptable dwarf shrimp that graze on biofilm and benefit from stable, mature aquarium conditions. A planted tank with gentle filtration, shelter, and mineral-rich water supports feeding, successful molts, and colony growth.
Bloody Mary Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)

Bloody Mary Shrimp are a selectively bred red color form of the freshwater Neocaridina davidi complex, valued for their deep, often opaque red coloration. They are small, peaceful scavengers suited to mature planted aquariums with stable chemistry and abundant biofilm. The trade name does not guarantee a formally distinct taxon, and exact lineage cannot be confirmed from the supplied images alone. They are generally manageable for beginners when water quality, acclimation, and mineral balance are handled carefully.