Whisker shrimp
Macrobrachium lanchesteri
A clear, long-armed shrimp from Southeast Asia that looks harmless but is an active predator of small shrimp, snails and fish like guppies.
Key facts
- Body length
- 1.5 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 12 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Predatory
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- 2–5 years
- Diet
- Shrimp pellets, frozen bloodworm, sinking foods
- Origin
- Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei and Laos
- Hardier than29%
- Bigger than17%
- Calmer than5%
Water: their range vs yours
Whisker shrimp tank mates
- Assassin snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Mystery snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Rabbit snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bladder snailWhisker shrimp eats small snails: Bladder snail.Risky
- Malaysian trumpet snailWhisker shrimp eats small snails: Malaysian trumpet snail.Risky
- Ramshorn snailWhisker shrimp eats small snails: Great ramshorn snail.Risky
- Colombian ramshornWhisker shrimp (predatory) will bully the peaceful Colombian ramshorn.Risky
- Great pond snailGreat pond snail needs cool water; whisker shrimp need tropical heat.Risky
- Neon tetraWhisker shrimp should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraWhisker shrimp should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Fancy guppyWhisker shrimp should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Panda corydorasWhisker shrimp should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- OtocinclusWhisker shrimp should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpWhisker shrimp eats dwarf shrimp: Cherry shrimp (ест неокаридин и амано).Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for whisker shrimp: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 3.8 cm (body)
- Adult mass
- 0.33 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 0.68 BU
- Min. water
- 38 L net
- Group
- 1+ (best 5)
- Swims in
- bottom, middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- invertebrate, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore meat
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Sources: The Shrimp Farm: Whisker shrimp care
Care notes
Whisker shrimp come from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei and Laos and are usually under 1.5 inches. They are active at night, males are territorial, and they breed in fresh water.
Keep them in their own tank of 10 gallons or more with a lid. Cherry and Amano shrimp, small snails and guppy-sized fish are on the menu; in shops they are often mixed up with ghost shrimp.
Questions
What size tank does a whisker shrimp need?
At least 12 gallons (38 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 1.5 inches without fins.
How many whisker shrimp should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do whisker shrimp need?
75–84 °F, pH 6.5–8 and 2–14 dGH. Whisker shrimp come from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei and Laos.
How long do whisker shrimp live?
2–5 years with good care.
What fish can live with whisker shrimp?
Good tank mates include Assassin snail, Mystery snail and Rabbit snail. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.