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.
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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.