it’s notably larger than popular dwarf shrimp, with a maximum length of up to 3″. Its second striking characteristic are, of course, its fan hands! This is a fan shrimp, which uses modified front legs to filter food from fast-moving waters in its natural habitat.

Bamboo shrimp are orange-brown in color with a light stripe running across the top of their backs.

If you’d like to keep your bamboo shrimp with fish, it’s important to choose their tankmates very carefully. Although they’re large, these shrimp are slow and their fans are fragile. They are 100% docile and will not bother any of their tankmates; the reverse is more likely.

You’ll want to avoid any species that may bother the shrimp, so go for only the most peaceful options. Small, bottom-feeding catfish like Corydoras or tiny schooling fish like Rasbora would work well.

In terms of invertebrates, you’ve got some good options. Both Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp should work well as tankmates for bamboo shrimp, as will aquarium snails.

The bamboo shrimp (Atyopsis moluccensis) is naturally found in Indonesia, of which the Moluccas archipelago forms part. It has also been reported from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, and likely the Philippines.

In its natural habitat, this species prefers fast-flowing streams and rivers where it can catch plenty of passing edible particles with its fans. They’ve been described as clinging to the underside of smooth boulders right in the harshest currents of torrential streams and rivers. These streams are usually shallow and have a rocky substrate.

Feeding Type: Omnivore
Group size: 6+
Temperature: 72-79°F (22-26°C)
Max Size: 10cm