Caridina multidentata
The classic 'algae crew' shrimp Takashi Amano used. Larger and more visible than Neos. Will outgrow risk of being eaten by small tetras.
Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata) reaches 2.5–3.5 cm and needs a minimum tank of 40 L with a colony of 5+. Native to Japan, Taiwan. Aim for 18–28 °C, pH 6.5–7.5, 6–15 dGH, and 150–300 ppm TDS. Lifespan: 2–3 years. Breeding: larvae need brackish water, almost never bred in home tanks. Diet: omnivore (heavy algae grazer), Hair algae, biofilm, blanched zucchini, sinking pellets, leftover fish food. Plant-safe: Yes. Tank-mates: Most community fish, outgrow most predators.
Care at a glance
The classic 'algae crew' shrimp Takashi Amano used. Larger and more visible than Neos. Will outgrow risk of being eaten by small tetras.
Updated 2 min read
Part of our complete freshwater shrimp guide.
Something looking off? Spot and treat it in our fish and shrimp health guide.
The parameters that decide whether amano shrimp fits in your tank.
5+
Omnivore (heavy algae grazer)
Hair algae, biofilm, blanched zucchini, sinking pellets, leftover fish food.
Larvae need brackish water, almost never bred in home tanks
2–3 yrs
Cool clear streams of Japan and Taiwan
Japan, Taiwan
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Most community fish (they're big enough not to be eaten). Excellent algae crew alongside Otocinclus.
Large or aggressive cichlids, large catfish, anything carnivorous and bigger than ~10 cm.
Weighing it against something similar? Compare Amano Shrimp head to head:
Hard-won lessons from the tank.
Takashi Amano's original 'algae crew' choice — better hair algae eaters than any other shrimp. Need actual algae to eat: a sparkling-clean tank starves them. Larger than Neocaridina = visible from across the room. They will out-compete smaller shrimp at food — feed them last.
What can go wrong and how to spot it.
Failure modes, in order of how dramatic the fix is.
Robust. Vorticella possible. Rapid mass die-offs in a tank usually indicate copper, ammonia, or oxygen issue.
1) Expecting to breed them — physiologically impossible at home. 2) Underestimating their food needs — they need enough algae or supplementation. 3) Adding to a hostile tank because of their size — they're still defenceless.
The practical routine, read top to bottom.
40 L+. Tolerant of wider parameters than Neocaridina or Caridina. Same setup philosophy — stable, copper-free, cycled, with hiding spots.
Where it comes from, how it behaves, and the variants you'll see at retail.
Where it lived before it came home.
See where the Amano Shrimp and every other species comes from on the species world map.
Streams and rivers of Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and parts of China. Amphidromous lifecycle — adults in fresh water, larvae require brackish/marine water.
How they pair, reproduce, and grow.
Females larger (up to 5 cm) with curved underside and broken-line dotted pattern. Males smaller (3–4 cm) with solid-dotted lateral pattern.
Every 4–8 weeks. Larger discarded molts than Neocaridina, often whole and intact.
Females carry eggs (~1000–2000) for 5–6 weeks. Larvae hatch as zoea and must reach brackish water within days or die — making home breeding effectively impossible without dedicated brackish nursery.
The named cultivars and the lookalikes worth flagging.
No grading — wild type only. Translucent grey-green with darker dotted line along the side. Females larger than males.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Minimum tank: 40 L with a colony of 5+. Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata) reach 2.5–3.5 cm as adults.
Target 18–28 °C, pH 6.5–7.5, 6–15 dGH, and 150–300 ppm TDS. Mature, cycled, low-nitrate water is non-negotiable.
Tank-mate notes: Most community fish, outgrow most predators. Plant safety: Yes.
Breeding: Larvae need brackish water, almost never bred in home tanks. In a stable colony of 5+ adults you will see berried females naturally once parameters and food are right.
Diet: omnivore (heavy algae grazer), Hair algae, biofilm, blanched zucchini, sinking pellets, leftover fish food. Algae-eating rating: 5/5.
Typical lifespan: 2–3 years.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this shrimp with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
