Bamboo Shrimp

Bamboo Shrimp is a shrimp species native to the southeastern regions of Asia. These shrimps are very popular in the aquarium hobby in America. Common names for this species include Wood Shrimp, Flower Shrimp, Singapore Wood, Marble Shrimp and Asian Fan Shrimp.

Description

These shrimps have an attractive and colorful appearance. Here is a general description of this shrimp species:

Color: Their color varies from dark red to woody brown with a white line running along their back.. This white line is visible only when the shrimp is happy. They also have red horizontal stripes covering their body

Size: They usually grow somewhere between 2 inches and 5 inches in size.

Appendages: They have three pairs of feathery appendages.

Antenna: These shrimps have two long sensory antennas.

Picture 1 – Bamboo Shrimp

Eyes: Like all other shrimp species these shrimps have compound eyes.

Distribution

These shrimps are found in various countries of Southeast Asia. Their distribution range includes Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Habitat

These shrimps live in rivers having good current flow.

Diet

This omnivorous filter feeder shrimp species feed on water algae and microscopic organisms.

Behavior

These invertebrates have an interesting behavior pattern:

• They are active both during day and night.
• These shrimps are quite solitary in nature.
• They like to swim in high current areas of their water habitat.
• These invertebrates shed their shell at least once every month.
• They are known to spend their day scavenging for food.
• Wood Shrimps tend to hide behind rocks after molting, coming out after a few days when their new shell turns hard.
• These shrimps can stay in the same position for long periods of time.

Picture 2 – Bamboo Shrimp Picture

Predators

Numerous large and small fish and birds are known to feed on the shrimps of this species. Octopus, squids, flamingos and loons are some of their known predators.

Adaptations

This freshwater shrimp species have the following adaptations for surviving in their natural habitat:

• The fans located on their 4 front legs help them find food in high current areas within a very short time.
• Their appendages help them to filter feed.
• They have sensory antennas which helps them to understand their surroundings.

Reproduction

There is limited information about the reproduction of these freshwater shrimps in their wild habitat or in captivity. Young Wood Shrimps are born as larva and do not look like the adults. These larvas need salt water to grow properly.

Lifespan

They have a lifespan of 2 to 3 years in captivity.

Interesting Facts

Here are some interesting facts about this amazing shrimp species:

Picture 3 – Bamboo Shrimp Molting

• The color of their body changes according to their mood. It becomes brighter when they are happy, while it fades when they are in a bad mood.
• They tend to become stressed if there is a lack of food.
• Bamboo Shrimps are used for edible purposes in various parts of the world.

Bamboo Shrimp Care

These attractive shrimps can be a wonderful addition to freshwater aquariums. However, one should keep in mind that it is a very delicate shrimp species requiring proper care. Here are some important information for caring and feeding Bamboo Shrimps:

Housing: A 20 gallon tank is ideal for a single shrimp of this species. The tank should be a well established one as new tanks are not recommended for these shrimps. The aquarium should have plenty of water plants and vegetations so that the shrimps can get enough food. They should have access to water with steady current in their tank.

Temperature: The temperature of the tank water should ideally range from 75.2 °F to 82.4 °F (24 °C to 28 °C).

Tank Water Medication: Many medications can be harmful for these delicate shrimps. Due to this reason it is advisable to consult an expert about the suitable medications for the aquarium. Exposure to copper is very harmful for these shrimps and extreme exposure can even result in their death.

pH Range of the Water: They prefer neutral to somewhat basic water. It is important to keep the pH level of the water between 6.0 and 7.5.

Feeding: They filter feed from water with good current. It is possible to keep 2 to 3 Bamboo Shrimps in a very well established aquarium without any supplementary food as they feed on the algae growth of the aquarium. If they are picking on the substrate of their tank, it indicates that they are not getting enough food. These pet shrimps may starve if the water of the aquarium is too clean. One can provide them with powdered algae and other foods intended to filter feed invertebrates.

Temperament: This species is quite peaceful and can be kept with other small non-aggressive fishes and shrimps. However, it is advisable not house them along with large aggressive fish or invertebrates that might eat the Bamboo Shrimps.

Images

Here are some images of these beautiful shrimps.

Picture 4 – Bamboo Shrimp Image

Picture 5 – Bamboo Shrimp Photo

Bamboo Shrimps or Wood Shrimps are among the most popular aquarium shrimps. Their attractive coloration and low maintenance makes them so popular. These peaceful shrimps can be an admirable addition to a freshwater aquarium.