Amano shrimp

Caridina profile

Amano shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Caridina
Easy

Amano, Caridina multidentata, is an active grazer with dark dots and dashes on a translucent body. Choose it for long-term care, including after algae decline.

Published by

ShrimpCent

Updated

Quick care card

Use this card as a starting point. Always check whether your aquarium is stable enough for sensitive species.

Difficulty

Easy

Behavior

Active grazer that may carry away offered food.

Feeding

Suitable supplemental food distributed at accessible sites.

Breeding

Freshwater adults with a separate saline larval phase.

Best match

A furnished aquarium with space, food access and a secure cover

Important

Adding Amano does not resolve every algae problem. Their larvae do not form a self-growing freshwater colony either.

Care in practice

Water parameters and stability

The Shrimp Farm lists pH 7.0-7.4 and GH 7-8 for its own husbandry. This is a practical example, not a universal optimum or safe boundary. Also check temperature, KH, water preparation and the origin of your group. The larval study by Kondo and colleagues is not an adult recipe. Choose water for actual needs; the genus Caridina does not prescribe a Bee substrate or low KH.

Aquarium setup

Check cable, hose and lid gaps and secure escape routes without blocking ventilation. Use functioning biological filtration, protected intakes and accessible shelter. Account for adults and sufficient space to pass each other when planning layout and stocking.

Feeding

Observe what happens after feeding: some animals carry a portion away, leaving others little access. If necessary, distribute small portions at several sites. Provide suitable food alongside grazing and remove decay. Do not starve animals to force consumption of a particular algae. Use the separate feeding article to adjust portions.

Combining with fish or shrimp

Even a larger shrimp may be harassed or eaten. Assess the entire stock and refuges; a “peaceful fish” label is no guarantee. Alongside smaller shrimp, pay particular attention to food distribution. A fixed shrimp-per-litre rule cannot replace observation.

Breeding and juveniles

Kondo and colleagues studied C. multidentata larvae across temperatures and salinities. Larvae develop in saline water; this does not justify salting the adult aquarium. An egg-carrying female may therefore be present in freshwater without young Amano growing there. Arrange a separately supported rearing plan before attempting to raise larvae.

Background and identification

Identification and comparison

The translucent base with flank markings is useful to observe, but check the scientific name offered too. An animal sold as “Australian Amano” is not automatically C. multidentata. Size and dots or dashes may help with sex assessment; a single character in a juvenile is not conclusive.

Amano graze surfaces with mouthparts and front limbs. A Bamboo shrimp instead uses fans to collect particles from water. They are therefore not interchangeable algae solutions.

Continue with Amano housing and Amano feeding. With sudden persistent climbing or loss of activity, check water and recent changes using the problem approach.

Sources and review

Taxonomy

Sources for accepted names, classification and synonyms.

Water values

Sources for water values, temperature and stable care.

Husbandry sources

Practical sources for setup, feeding, behavior and breeding.