In the post below you will find 8 great Amano Shrimp Tank Mates as well as a few you should avoid.
But before we get into that did you know there are over 33,230 fish species, with over 1,000 of them being aquarium species. Among them are Amano shrimp, famous for keeping tanks debris-free and controlling the growth of algae.
The Amano Shrimp is known by its scientific name Caridina multidentata and a variety of other names like
- Jeponica Shrimp
- Caridina Japonica
- Algae Eating Shrimp
- Yamato Shrimp
When choosing tank mates for your Amano, you need to look for those with almost similar characteristics. Here is a video of my planted 10-gallon tank that has some Amano Shrimp, Nerite Snails, and Glowlight Tetras.
Here are some key characteristics of the Amano Shrimp;
Care Level: Easy.
Ideal Tank Size: Min 10 gallons.
Temperature Range: 70°F to 80°F
PH Range: 6-7
As a rule of thumb, have 1 Amano Shrimps per 2 gallons
Contents
Equipment You Might Need For Your Amano Shrimp
- Aqua Clear – Fish Tank Filter
- NICREW Classic LED Aquarium Light
- Fluval M50 Aquarium Heater
- Python Pro-Clean Gravel Washer and Siphon Kit
- Marina Algae Magnet Cleaner
- API Freshwater Master Test Kit
Types of Amano Shrimp Tank Mates
There are a variety of Amano Shrimp tank mates you can choose from and each tank mate comes with its own requirements so be sure they are compatible with your Amano Shrimp.
Here are a few to try;
- Pearl Gouramis
- Apisto Borelli
- Bolivian Rams
- Blue Rams
- Cory’s
- Dwarf Neon Rainbows
- Black Neons
- Lemon Tetras
But there are also a few you should avoid like;
- Clown Loaches
- Polka Dots Botias
1. Pearl Gourami Fish
Care Level: Easy
Ideal Tank Size: the aquarium needs to be at least 20 gallons big.
Temperature Range: the ideal temperature range is 77°F to 82°F
PH Range: the perfect pH range is 5.5-7.5
Pearl Gourami is one of the most beautiful gourami, but also very hard to keep. Being a labyrinth fish, it breaths by gulping air at the surface of the tank. It’s also known for its vocalizing abilities when breeding or fighting.
The Pearl Gourami species comes from Thailand, Malaysia and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. They have a preference for acidic water found in lowland swamps near the sea.
This fish is an ideal tank make to the Amano Shrimp because it’s generally peaceful.
2. Apisto Borelli
Care Level: Intermediate
Ideal Tank Size: the aquarium needs to be at least 10 gallons big.
Temperature Range: the ideal temperature range is 20°C to 26°C
PH Range: the perfect pH range is 5-8
The Apisto Borelli species, also known as umbrella cichlid or yellow dwarf cichlid, is a South American species. It’s common in the Parana and Paraguay rivers. They thrive in waters as cold as 6.5°C.
The fish feeds on insects and crustaceans. So be careful with this as a tank mate most apisto are going to eat shrimp. But yes the smaller species Such as A. borellii are less likely to do so.
If you provide it with adequate shelter and cover, the species is unfussy. It can thrive in an environment with décors like flowerpots and other artificial decorative additions.
3. Bolivian Rams
Care Level: Ideal for beginner
Ideal Tank Size: the aquarium needs to be at least 30 gallons big.
Temperature Range: the ideal temperature range is 74°F to 78°F
PH Range: the perfect pH range is 6-7.4
Bolivian rams are characterized by being colorful, easygoing, and peaceful. They can be shy and hence coexist with various other typed of fish. Their cheerful characteristic brightens up even the dullest aquariums.
Their colors range from yellow to red to silvery blue. Their bright colors make the fish stand out from the rest of the population. They’re a perfect choice for beginners and breeding them can be a rewarding tool.
One of the behaviors you’ll notice with the Bolivian Rams species is their slight aggressiveness. They typically will not to attack other fish but may try to scare them.
They make good tank mates with Amano Shrimp because they’re generally calm and friendly.
4. Blue Rams
Care Level: Fairly difficult
Ideal Tank Size: the aquarium needs to be at least 20 gallons big.
Temperature Range: the ideal temperature range is 78°F to 85°F
PH Range: the perfect pH range is 5.5-7.0
The Blue Ram species is also commonly known as the butterfly cichlid. It’s one of the beautiful dwarf cichlids desired by most aquarists.
The fish is available in bright blue and grey flanks. On the head and chest are gold, black, and yellow colorations with a blue shade.
On the chest is a red coloration while there’s a black vertical line that runs across the eye. The large dorsal fin has some black coloring at the front edge. The pelvic fins are mostly red and blue.
Blue Rams are ideal Amano Shrimp tankmates because they are generally peaceful.
5. Cory
Care Level: Relatively easy
Ideal Tank Size: the aquarium needs to be at least 10 gallons big.
Temperature Range: the ideal temperature range is 72°F to 79°F
PH Range: the ideal pH range is 6.6-7.0
The Cory catfish is small, peaceful, and bottom-dwelling fish.
They are best kept as tank mates to medium-sized and friendly species. Being bottom-dwellers, they also happen to be scavengers.
This means they’ll help keep your tank clean by feeding on any uneaten debris and food particles.
Here are seven types of Cory catfish to pick from;
- Bandit Cory
- Bronze Cory
- Julii Cory
- Panda Cory
- Pepper Cory
- Skunk Cory
- Three-stripe Cory
The Cory makes ideal tank mates for Amano Shrimp because it contributes to the growth of algae.
6. Dwarf Neon Rainbow
Care Level: Easy
Ideal Tank Size: the aquarium needs to be at least 10 gallons big.
Temperature Range: the ideal temperature range is 73°F to 82°F
PH Range: the ideal pH range is 6.8-7.5
The Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish is suited to a densely planted setup where it brings out its true colors. It doesn’t do well with bright conditions, hence the recommendation to use floating plants to diffuse light getting into the tank.
Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish make good tank mates for most fish species because they’re calm and small-sized.
7. Black Neons
Care Level: Easy
Ideal Tank Size: the aquarium needs to be at least 10 gallons big.
Temperature Range: the ideal temperature range is 73°F to 81°F
PH Range: the ideal pH range is 5.5-7.5
Black neon fish species are energetic with a pleasant personality. They’re an attractive sight to look at especially when placed in a contrasting background. There’s an albino form available as well.
They’re suitable for small aquariums and always make excellent additions to all types of fish communities.
8. Lemon Tetras
Care Level: Easy
Ideal Tank Size: the aquarium needs to be at least 20 gallons big.
Temperature Range: the ideal temperature range is 72°F to 82°F
PH Range: the ideal pH range is 6-7.5
The lemon tetra species is very peaceful and originates from South America. It belongs to the family of Characidae and is long established as a favorite Aquarium Fish.
It’s a deep-bodied fish, with a primary body color that resembles translucent yellow.
Lemon tetras are best kept in large numbers, and they’re good tank mates for Amano Shrimp.
Amano Shrimp Tank Mates To Avoid
1. Clown Loaches
Care Level: Moderately difficult
Ideal Tank Size: the aquarium needs to be at least 100 gallons big.
Temperature Range: the ideal temperature range is 78°F to 87°F
PH Range: the perfect pH range is 6-7.5
Clown loaches are a popular freshwater fish. It’s a type of fish that coexists peacefully with most types of fish.
Except for shrimp!
It’s interesting to watch them feed on the snails and shrimp that wind up in your aquarium.
The Clown Loach originates from the rivers and tributaries of Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, and Kalimantan. In the spawning periods, they migrate to the more flooded areas of the rain forest. This is in search of soft water and slow-moving streams.
The loach prefers slow-moving waterways with shaded leafy plants, lined with fallen leaves, plant, and twigs.
2. Polka Dots Botias
Care Level: Relatively undemanding
Ideal Tank Size: the aquarium needs to be at least 10 gallons.
Temperature Range: the ideal temperature range is 75°F to 82°F
PH Range: the perfect pH range is 6.8-7.5
The Polka Dots Botias is a peaceful fish species that can thrive in a wide range of parameters. They’re softer than most of their counterparts but do well in more acidic environments.
The species are variable in patterns and can change dramatically as they grow. The darkest parts of their skin get darker as the fish increases in size.
The Polka Dots species is a horrible tank mate for Amano Shrimp due to its diet.
Final Thoughts
What fish can I keep with Amano shrimp?
Many fish can be kept in the same tank as Amano Shrimp. Here are a few great ideas for tank mates:
- Pearl Gourami Fish
- Apisto Borelli
- Bolivian Rams
- Blue Rams
- Cory
- Dwarf Neon Rainbow
- Black Neons
- Lemon Tetras
Can betta fish live with Amano shrimp?
Amano shrimp can live in the same tank as Bettas. Even though Betta fish are known for eating small shrimp if your provide enough cover for the shrimp they can live in the same tank.
Amano shrimp are also slightly larger than most shrimp; because of this, Betta Fish are even less likely to attack them.
What plants do Amano shrimp like?
Amano shrimp love to hide and play in plants; they provide great places for your shrimp to live.
Here are a few great plants for your Amano Shrimp:
- Java Moss
- Cryptocoryne
- Java Fern
- Vallisneria
- Water Wisteria
When thinking of keeping Amano Shrimp, think of the type of fish you may want to keep.
Amano Shrimp are easy to take care of and survives in a pH range of 6-7. They can survive in tanks that hold at least 10 gallons, in temperatures between 70°F and 80°F.
When choosing Amano shrimp tank mates go for species with almost similar characteristics.
With these Amano shrimp tank mates, you should be ready to set up your fish tank, and this guide can help you.
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