Filter-feeding shrimp profile
Vampire shrimp
Atya gabonensis
The Vampire shrimp is a large, peaceful Atya fan shrimp that filters fine food from flowing water. It needs space, oxygen, shelter and targeted feeding.
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Quick verdict
Suitable for: Experienced keepers with a large mature aquarium, flow and controlled feeding. Watch especially: check flow and suspended food.
Quick care card
Use this card as a starting point. Always check whether your aquarium is stable enough for sensitive species.
Temperature
23 - 28 °C
pH
6.8 - 7.8
GH
6 - 20 °dH
KH
2 - 12 °dH
TDS
150 - 300 ppm
Aquarium
From 100 liters
Difficulty
Difficult
Behavior
Large, shy and peaceful filter-feeding shrimp
Feeding
Fine suspended food, detritus, microorganisms, spirulina and powdered feeds
Breeding
Eggs may be carried, but larvae need saltwater or strong brackish water
Best match
Experienced keepers with a large mature aquarium, flow and controlled feeding
Important
Do not buy Vampire shrimp as algae eaters. They can slowly starve in a clean tank if fine food does not reach their fan hands.
Care in practice
These are the points that most often make the difference between survival and a stable colony.
Use stable water around 23-28 degrees Celsius, pH 6.8-7.8, GH 6-20, KH 2-12 and TDS about 150-300 ppm. Oxygen, zero ammonia, zero nitrite and low nitrate matter more than exact numbers.
Use a larger mature aquarium, preferably around 100 liters or more, with strong flow, wood, rocks, caves and shaded shelters. Provide feeding positions in the current and deep hiding places after molting.
Feed very fine food into the current with a pipette, especially near dusk or when the shrimp is actively fanning. Use spirulina, chlorella, powdered flakes, baby shrimp food and tiny frozen foods in small portions.
Vampire shrimp are peaceful but often shy. They may choose one favorite feeding place near a cave or stone. In groups, provide several feeding spots.
They can live with calm small fish, snails, dwarf shrimp, Amano shrimp and Bamboo shrimp if conditions match. Avoid fin nippers, predators, crayfish, crabs and species that pick at fan hands.
Breeding is very difficult for hobbyists. Females can carry many eggs, but larvae require saltwater or strong brackish water before later returning to freshwater.
Common mistakes are using a small new tank, treating them as algae cleaners, feeding only sinking tablets, providing too little flow, ignoring fan scraping, overdosing powder food and combining them with fish that nip their fans.
Background and identification
Extra context helps you identify, compare and keep the species safely.
Atya gabonensis is linked with West African rivers and streams. It naturally uses fast, oxygen-rich water with rocks, wood, leaves and shelter.
Vampire shrimp can reach roughly 10-15 cm. They are bulky, almost crayfish-like in shape, but the front legs end in fans rather than claws. Color varies from grey, beige and brown to blue-grey or deep blue.
Compared with Bamboo shrimp, Vampire shrimp become larger, are often shyer and may feed lower near shelters. Compared with Amano or Neocaridina, they are not surface grazers and need food in the water column.
Full species profile
The Vampire shrimp, Atya gabonensis, is a large West African fan shrimp that is completely peaceful despite its dramatic name. It filters tiny food particles from flowing water with broad fan hands.
Care focus
This is not a standard beginner shrimp. It needs a mature, oxygen-rich aquarium with strong flow, dark shelters and targeted fine food. A Vampire shrimp that often scrapes the bottom with its fans may be short of suspended food.
Water and setup
A practical range is 23-28 degrees Celsius, pH 6.8-7.8, GH 6-20, KH 2-12 and TDS around 150-300 ppm. Use a larger tank with stones, wood, caves, open flow lanes and quiet hiding areas for molting.
Feeding and breeding
Feed fine suspended foods such as spirulina, chlorella, powdered flakes, baby shrimp food, fine frozen foods and filter-feeder food into the current. Breeding is not realistic in a normal freshwater aquarium because larvae need saltwater or strong brackish water.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions about Vampire shrimp.
Sources and review
Last reviewed: June 15, 2026. Different values are used in the hobby; choose stability over chasing numbers.
Sources for accepted names, classification and synonyms.
Sources for water values, temperature and stable care.
Practical sources for setup, feeding, behavior and breeding.