Bamboo Shrimp

About

Bamboo shrimp (Atyopsis moluccensis) are one of the more unusual invertebrates you can keep in a freshwater aquarium, and once you understand how they feed, they become genuinely fascinating to watch. Unlike most shrimp that scavenge the substrate, bamboo shrimp are filter feeders. They position themselves in moderate water flow and spread their fan-like front appendages to catch fine particles drifting past. In the wild they're found across Southeast Asia and into the Indo-Pacific, typically clinging to rocks or wood in flowing streams and rivers where the current delivers a steady supply of food. In the aquarium they'll stake out the same kind of spots, often near a filter outlet or powerhead, and you'll see them rotate and reposition their fans constantly as they work the current. They're entirely peaceful and safe with fish, other shrimp, and snails. The main thing new keepers need to understand is that these shrimp must be able to filter feed. If the tank doesn't have enough suspended matter in the water column, they'll start picking at surfaces instead, which is a sign they're not getting enough to eat. Supplementing with powdered foods or fine-ground spirulina blown into the current solves that quickly. A forgiving choice for community tanks, provided their feeding needs are met.