Bamboo shrimp
Atyopsis moluccensis
A large, fully peaceful shrimp that catches floating food with fans on its front legs; it needs strong flow and a mature tank or it starves.
Key facts
- Body length
- 3.1 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 17 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- 2–3 years
- Diet
- Fine powdered foods, crushed flakes, suspended particles
- Origin
- Southeast Asia, Molucca Islands
- Hardier than10%
- Bigger than51%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Bamboo shrimp tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbTiger barb nips fins; Bamboo shrimp is vulnerable (slow swimmer). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.Risky
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat young or small Bamboo shrimp; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Bamboo shrimp.Risky
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna (aggressive) will bully the peaceful Bamboo shrimp.Risky
- GoldfishGoldfish needs cool water; bamboo shrimp need tropical heat.Risky
- Jewel cichlidJewel cichlid can eat young or small Bamboo shrimp; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Bamboo shrimp: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Bamboo shrimp: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Bamboo shrimp: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- SeverumSeverum can eat Bamboo shrimp: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
- African clawed frogAfrican clawed frog should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Marbled crayfishMarbled crayfish should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for bamboo shrimp: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 8 cm (body)
- Adult mass
- 3.07 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 0.63 BU
- Min. water
- 54 L net
- Min. footprint
- 60 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 1+ (best 3)
- Swims in
- middle, bottom
- Flow
- high
- Body / fins
- invertebrate, normal fins
- Diet type
- filter feeder
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper, nitrate
Sources: Practical Fishkeeping: Fans of Flow · The Shrimp Farm: Bamboo shrimp care
Care notes
Bamboo shrimp come from Southeast Asia and grow to about 3 inches. They perch in the current and sweep particles from the water with feathery fans.
Give them a mature 15-gallon tank or larger with filter turnover of 8 to 10 times the volume per hour. In still water they go hungry, so target-feed fine foods two or three times a day.
Questions
What size tank does a bamboo shrimp need?
At least 17 gallons (54 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 3.1 inches without fins.
How many bamboo shrimp should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do bamboo shrimp need?
73–82 °F, pH 6.5–7.5 and 6–10 dGH. Bamboo shrimp come from Southeast Asia, Molucca Islands.
How long do bamboo shrimp live?
2–3 years with good care.
What fish can live with bamboo shrimp?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.