Excellent Freshwater Algae Eaters in Aquariums: Vampire Shrimp

ExcellentFreshwater Algae Eaters in Aquariums: Vampire Shrimp Vampire Shrimp, Atya gabonensis, also called African Fan Shrimp, Giant African Fan Shrimp, African Filter Shrimp, Giant African Filter Shrimp, Gabon Shrimp, or Viper Shrimp, are natives of areas of South America and parts of Western Africa.

Photo copyright from angelfishaquatics.co.uk 

Excellent Freshwater Algae Eaters in Aquariums: Vampire Shrimp


Vampire Shrimp are peaceful on the bashful side and they enjoy little places to hide. At exactly the same time, Vampire Shrimp appears to be rather social with other filter shrimp. They seem to be quite secure hanging out with other freshwater shrimp, notably Bamboo Shrimp in the water current.

We'd no idea they were filter feeders (like the Flower Shrimp) and wouldn't hurt a water flea. We do have to confess that "vampire shrimp" sounds much more alluring than "African filter shrimp." However, if you treat your vampire shrimp exactly like a Flower Shrimp, you'll do just fine.

Additionally it is recorded from the east coast of South America; these people may represent a different species and nonetheless, the genus is not well studied. Their natural history is not well-documented.

Serving Diet

Vampire Shrimp food consists mainly of edible plant matter in the water, touches of uneaten fish food, and likely tiny edible microorganisms floating in the tank that are too small to be observed. Along with this, it’s also wise to supplement their diet with small flakes, finely ground algae wafers, shrimp pellets, or food made up of ground fish pellets. A pinch or two at the time will cause the shrimp square was hit on by the food particles in its filter fans. After a number of tries, it’s easy to get the hang of it.

Coloration

Colouring of the species can vary from a creamy white to an almost rust brown, in addition to a deep azure. It's believed that the water conditions will affect colouring and harder the blue morph is caused by water. These shrimp have always been known to change colouring several times in exactly the same year.

Company

Best kept in community tanks with somewhat bigger fish or like size tetra. Shouldn't be kept with cichlids or exceptionally aggressive fish. Won't damage community tank members. Dwarf shrimp may also be placed with this particular species.

Compatible Species

African fan shrimp do exceedingly well in same-species groups; I have also kept them with Atyopsis moluccensis, Singapore wood shrimp, Japanese marsh shrimp, Caridina japonica Neocardina denticulate, and cherry shrimp. Little, peaceful community fish for example guppies, zebra danios, barbs that are cherry and so on are also great, but please see the feeding cautions above.

Alternatively, you can house fan shrimp with fish that do not compete for food, i.e. live food specialists such as elephant-nosed morymids and butterfly fish (both of which are also native to West Africa, although not to the same habitat-types).

Life span

Vampire Shrimp lifespan varies, but some can live a very long time. I've had some that lived for three years and I’ve heard stories five years, where some have been shoving. That said, its not unusual for Vampire Shrimp to expire shortly after being added to a tank. Or it may also be because of the pressure of being transported, or just the state of the shrimp itself.

Breeding

As is true for the majority of filter feeding shrimp breeding is very uncommon in captivity. Most are wild caught. If you can get them to breed they are going to establish a land in a cavern or other spot that is darkened. They're egglayers look closely throughout the tank.

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