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.
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.
23 - 28 °C
6.8 - 7.8
6 - 20 °dH
2 - 12 °dH
150 - 300 ppm
From 100 liters
Difficult
Large, shy and peaceful filter-feeding shrimp
Fine suspended food, detritus, microorganisms, spirulina and powdered feeds
Eggs may be carried, but larvae need saltwater or strong brackish water
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 12, 2026. Different values are used in the hobby; choose stability over chasing numbers.
- WoRMS: Atya taxon list
Taxonomische bron waarin Atya gabonensis Giebel, 1875 als soort binnen Atya wordt genoemd en Atya sculptata als synoniem wordt geaccepteerd.
- GBIF: Atya gabonensis Giebel, 1875
Taxonomische databankbron voor de geldige naam Atya gabonensis Giebel, 1875 en literatuurverwijzingen.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: African Fan Shrimp
Overheidsbron met wetenschappelijke naam, geslacht, soort en gangbare Engelse namen zoals African fan shrimp, vampire shrimp en Gabon shrimp.
- Hobbs and Hart 1982: The Shrimp Genus Atya
Smithsonian-monografie over het geslacht Atya met taxonomie, verspreiding, habitatnotities en groottegegevens voor Atya gabonensis.
- The Shrimp Farm: Vampire shrimp care
Geeft pH 6.5-7.8, 75-85 graden Fahrenheit, voorkeur voor relatief harder water, volledig ingedraaide bak, ammoniak en nitriet op nul en nitraat onder 20.
- AquariumBreeder: Vampire Shrimp detailed guide
Geeft 22-28 graden Celsius, pH 6.8-7.2 als optimaal, GH 6-20, KH 2-15, TDS 150-200 met 100-300 als bredere range en nitraat onder 20 ppm.
- Fishipedia: Atya gabonensis
Aanvullende bron voor natuurlijke temperatuur, pH, GH, sterke stroming, minimumvolume, groepshouding en kopergevoeligheid.
- Aquarium Care Basics: Vampire Shrimp care
Praktijkbron die stabiliteit, vermijden van koper, ammoniak, nitriet en nitraatcontrole en een 20 gallon lang aquarium als startpunt benadrukt.
- The Shrimp Farm: Vampire shrimp care
Praktische informatie over schuwe filtervoeding, sterke stroming, minimaal 20 gallon, zandbodem, schuilplaatsen, tankgenoten, fijn voer en moeilijke zoutwaterlarven.
- AquariumBreeder: Vampire Shrimp detailed guide
Diepe praktijkbron over formaat, gedrag, geslachtsonderscheid, voeding in de stroming, nachtelijk voeren, schuilplaatsen, vervelling, tankgenoten en zeldzame kweekverslagen.
- Fishipedia: Atya gabonensis
Aanvullende informatie over filtervoeding, kolonievorming, nachtactiviteit, sterke stroming, zuurstofrijk habitat, minimumgroep en aquariumvolume.
- Aquarium Care Basics: Vampire Shrimp care
Praktijkbron over sociaal gedrag met andere filtergarnalen, plantendelen en microvoedsel in een volwassen aquarium, tankmaat en stabiel onderhoud.
- Hobbs and Hart 1982: The Shrimp Genus Atya
Wetenschappelijke achtergrondbron voor het geslacht Atya, verspreiding, rotsachtige substraten en groottegegevens voor Atya gabonensis.