Bamboo shrimp, scientifically known as Atyopsis moluccensis, is a captivating freshwater crustacean often referred to by several intriguing names, including wood shrimp and flower shrimp. This article will explore the unique characteristics of the bamboo shrimp, delve into the details of how to care for them in an aquarium, and explain the origins of their various names.
Contents
Habitat in the wild
Atyopsis moluccensis are native to the freshwater rivers and streams of Southeast Asia, particularly in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. They thrive in tropical environments where the water is clear and well-oxygenated. In the wild, these shrimp are often found in fast-flowing rivers and streams with abundant vegetation and submerged structures.
Bamboo shrimp are adapted to fast-moving water, where they use their fan-like pincers to filter food particles from the current. In an aquarium setting, it’s crucial to replicate this environment by providing strong water flow. A powerful filter or water pump can help simulate the natural conditions these shrimp are accustomed to.
Description
Their diverse appearances and the commercial popularity of these shrimp can sometimes lead to confusion regarding their identification and care. In this guide, we’ll explore the characteristics of bamboo shrimp and provide insights into their care requirements.
Size and Lifespan
Bamboo shrimp vary in size depending on their species. On average, they range from 2.5 to 5 inches (6 to 13 cm) in length. Individual shrimp size can differ based on factors like age and overall health. In terms of lifespan, bamboo shrimp typically live for about 1 to 2 years, though with optimal care, some may live slightly longer. Providing suitable water conditions, a well-maintained aquarium, and a balanced diet can help ensure their well-being and potentially extend their lifespan.
Coloration
The coloration of bamboo shrimp can be quite variable, including shades of brown, red, sandy green, or yellowish hues. This variation is influenced by factors such as the shrimp’s origin, diet, molting process, and the plants in their tank. Consequently, predicting the exact color a bamboo shrimp will display in a new tank can be challenging. Typically, bamboo shrimp have a distinctive white or light-yellow stripe along their back.
Unique Features
One of the most notable features of bamboo shrimp is their fan-shaped appendages. Their first two pairs of legs are adapted into web-like fans with small hooks that aid in filtering food from the water. These adaptations are crucial for their survival, as the shrimp’s large size helps prevent them from being swept away by strong water currents.
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Atyopsis spp. |
| Family | Atyidae |
| Common names | Bamboo shrimp; wood shrimp; flower shrimp |
| Size | Typically range from 2.5 to 5 inches (6 to 13 cm) |
| Lifespan | Average lifespan of 1 to 2 years, but can live longer with proper care |
| Coloration | Translucent body with various patterns and colorations, often brown or greenish |
| Body Shape | Elongated and cylindrical body shape |
| Antennae | Long, feathery antennae |
| Appendages | Have specialized appendages called fan-like maxillipeds that they use for filter-feeding |
| Filter-Feeding | Bamboo shrimp are primarily filter feeders, using their maxillipeds to capture microscopic food particles |
| Water Parameters | Prefer clean, well-oxygenated water with a pH range of 6.5-7.5 and temperature range of 72-82°F (22-28°C) |
| Tank Size | Generally, a minimum tank size of 10 gallons is recommended, with larger tanks preferred for more individuals |
| Tank Setup | Require a well-established aquarium with ample hiding places, gentle water flow, and suitable filtration |
| Compatibility | Peaceful and can be kept with other non-aggressive community fish that won’t outcompete them for food |
| Behavior | Generally sedentary and spend most of their time filter-feeding near areas with strong water flow |
| Breeding | Breeding bamboo shrimp in home aquariums is rare and challenging due to complex larval stages and specific needs |
| Care Level | Intermediate to advanced. Requires proper water parameters, regular feeding, and a suitable tank setup |
Care and Keeping in a tank
Unfortunately, many bamboo shrimps dies right after putting them into a new tank. Possibly, this happens because of stress they experience while transportation as well as new tank conditions they get exposed to.
Water parameters
Water conditions acceptable for all species are almost the same. The tank water has to be neutral or slightly alkaline (pH value about 7 or higher). As for the tank water hardness, it should be not less then 5-20 dGH.
Though it is possible to keep these shrimps in soft or even slightly acidic water. The tank requires aeration, filtration and sufficient water flow. As for ammonia and nitrites – they shouldn’t be present in a tank with bamboo shrimps. Besides, it is recommended to keep nitrates levels as low as possible – in any case it shouldn’t exceed 40 mg/l.
Tank water temperature should be within 75-81 °F (24-28 °C). It’s important to maintain a stable and consistent temperature within this range. When the temperature gets lower then 22 °C, they obviously doesn’t feel good.
Tank size
Tank Size for Single Bamboo Shrimp
For a single bamboo shrimp, a minimum tank size of 10 gallons (38 liters) is recommended. This size provides sufficient space for the shrimp to explore and find suitable areas for filter-feeding. A 10-gallon tank allows the shrimp to move around comfortably and establish its territory without feeling confined.
Tank Size for Multiple Bamboo Shrimp
If you plan to keep multiple bamboo shrimp, a larger tank is essential to prevent overcrowding and ensure each shrimp has enough space. A tank size of at least 20 gallons (76 liters) or more is ideal for housing several bamboo shrimp. This larger tank provides ample room for each shrimp to feed, explore, and exhibit natural behaviors without competing for space.
Tank decor
Bamboo shrimps looks very unusual in a community tank. They sit on some heights and catch water flow with their fans. Taking into account peculiarities of the feeding and behavior, we can conclude that good filtration and clean water are obligatory requirements to keep a shrimp in a tank.
Bamboo shrimp prefer areas with gentle to moderate water flow. Providing them with a gentle current helps create an optimal environment for their filter-feeding behavior.
You can use both internal and external filters, the main thing is that they provide the required water flow intensity. It is better to put stones, snags, large tank plants along the water flow. Your bamboo shrimp will sit on them like a monument and catch the food flowing by.
It is important to make sure that your shrimps don’t starve, which can easily happen considering their unusual way of feeding. The first sign indicating that your shrimps are starving is that they start spending more time on the tank bottom and move looking for some food. Because, normally, they usually sit on some high places in the tank and catch the food from the water flow.
Though it is not a small shrimp, it can hide so good that it will be hard to find it even in an empty tank. If nothing scares bamboo shrimp, they sit swaggeringly on tank plants or walk along the tank bottom looking for food.
Feeding
You can’t imagine how they enjoy the moment when you clean the tank bottom, dig out tank plants or feed the fishes with small grained food like frozen brine shrimp. They try to get closer to the center of such events.
They also becomes active when you wash your tank filter and small pieces of dirt and food fall from the filter and are carried away with the flow. Keep in mind, that very often bamboo shrimps starve in pet shops! So when they get into a new tank, they start walking along the bottom and looking for some food. This is quite common behavior for shrimps bought in a pet shop.
Therefore, be ready to feed them high at first. Bamboo shrimps should be fed with high quality dry food for tank fish. Very small grained, slowly drowning pellets for fish juveniles will be especially good.
Frozen daphnia and cyclops, live brine shrimp nauplii and decapsulated eggs of brine shrimp will do as well.
Food gravitated to the tank bottom will be easily “swept” by bamboo shrimps. Sometimes it happens that there is no suspended food in a tank and there won’t be for some period of time, but the shrimps refuse to go round the tank bottom and look for food there.
They are just sitting near the pump and filtrating the water flow to get some food (which is missing) and they may even die this way. In this case you should turn off the pump before feeding.
When the flow in the tank disappears, the bamboo shrimps will understand that the food will not come to them and they’ll start sweeping the tank bottom.
Tank mates
Social Behavior
Bamboo shrimp are generally peaceful and can thrive in groups, provided they have enough space. However, they can exhibit territorial behavior in smaller tanks. In these conditions, they may compete for the best feeding spots, often attempting to push each other away from favored positions. Despite this territoriality, bamboo shrimp typically do not harm each other.
To minimize territorial disputes, it’s best to provide a tank that is spacious enough to accommodate their social structure comfortably.
Tank Mates
When selecting tank mates for bamboo shrimp, it’s important to choose peaceful and small species to ensure harmony in the aquarium. Suitable shrimp tank mates include:
- Cherry Shrimp: These small and peaceful shrimp coexist well with bamboo shrimp.
- Amano Shrimp: Another compatible shrimp species, Amano shrimp are also small and non-aggressive.
For fish tank mates, choose species that are small and non-aggressive. Avoid aggressive or larger fish that might pose a threat to bamboo shrimp. Specifically:
- Avoid Pufferfish: These fish can be aggressive and may view bamboo shrimp as potential prey.
- Avoid Most Cichlids: Many cichlid species are territorial and can be too aggressive for bamboo shrimp.
Bamboo shrimp are gentle and harmless, making them ideal companions for other peaceful aquatic life. Ensuring compatible tank mates will help maintain a balanced and stress-free environment for all inhabitants.
Shedding
How do shrimps grow? They shed their shin from time to time and right after shedding, when the new chitinous carapace is soft, they grow. We should mention that for shedding process is a serious challenge. However, if tank conditions are favorable the process ends successfully.
Let me remind you, that all crustaceans have to shed occasionally. They take off their old chitinous carapace, which becomes small. They literally shed their skin, which is not easy at all. But they still manage to do it every time. Moreover, while shedding they grow new parts of the body, instead of the ones they lost.
That’s why you can take a risk and buy a bamboo shrimp with some missing limbs or antennae, which can be encountered very often in pet shops. All shrimps were taken to us from faraway warm countries and they have been through hard times while transportation and living in different tanks before getting here.
So, create comfortable tank conditions for such a shrimp and in a few month all missing parts of its body will grow again.
Gender differences: male vs female
Identifying the sex of bamboo shrimp can be challenging as there are no striking physical differences between males and females. Both sexes have elongated bodies and feathery antennae, and they do not show significant color or size variations. However, subtle distinctions can be noted:
- Females: Female bamboo shrimp typically have a larger, more rounded abdomen to accommodate their eggs. They also have longer pleopods (swimming legs) compared to males.
- Males: Males generally have a slimmer body compared to females. Their first pair of legs is more developed and features small claws used during mating.
Behavioral Cues
Observing behavioral cues can help in identifying the sex of bamboo shrimp:
- Mating Behavior: During mating, males use their specialized claws to grasp females. This behavior can be a clue to their sex.
- Territoriality: In some cases, males may exhibit more dominant or territorial behaviors compared to females, especially when competing for prime feeding spots.
Identification Tips
- Examine the Abdomen: Look for a larger, rounder abdomen in females, especially when they are carrying eggs.
- Check the Pleopods: Notice the length of the pleopods; females typically have longer ones.
- Observe Leg Structure: Males have more developed first pair of legs with small claws used during mating.
Breeding
Breeding bamboo shrimp in home aquariums can be challenging and is less commonly achieved compared to some other shrimp species. This is primarily due to the complex larval stages and specific environmental requirements for successful breeding.
Bamboo shrimp development cycle is rather complex and clearly indicates on estuarine or sea habitat of their ancestors. Females stick about several hundreds of small eggs (about 1.8 mm in diameter) to their pleopods and carry them for about 22 days. Small larvae which is able to swim hatches from these eggs.
But they soon die while shedding or get into the tank filter, or they are eaten by their parents, if you don’t put them away timely. The thing is that juveniles can grow successfully only in seawater or brackish water (with percentage of salt about 28 grams for 1 liter of water) and they require specialized diet: first it is phyto- and then zooplankton.
In the wild larvae are carried down the river flow fast and they get to river estuarine into brackish water. It is possible to grow the larvae in the home, but it is difficult. Without exaggeration, it will be quite a feat to feed larvae regularly and keep almost ideal hydrochemical conditions in the tank.