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No federal permit to keepAmano shrimp
Caridina multidentata
Invertebrates › Freshwater shrimp (Decapoda) › Atyidae (Freshwater shrimp)
Caridina multidentata is a species of shrimp in the family Atyidae.
Care at a glance
Species-specific values
Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.
| Water temperature | 65–82 degF Aquarium Co-Op recommendation; alternative seller gives 64–80°F, retained separately. | 358 |
| Water temperature alternative | 64–80 degF Aquatic Arts captive-bred stock range; middle preferred. Do not collapse differing sources into invented consensus. | 398 |
| Water pH | 6–8 pH Aquarium Co-Op range; not transferable to all Caridina species. | 358 |
| Larval environment | Larvae need highly brackish/saline water; adults can be maintained in freshwater. Freshwater adult husbandry does not describe larval culture. | 358 |
Care guide
Freshwater shrimp
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Streams and ponds. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Cycled, planted tanks with stable water; moss gives baby shrimp grazing surfaces.
Diet
- Biofilm, algae, blanched vegetables and shrimp pellets.
Health watch
- Avoid copper-based treatments and abrupt temperature, salinity or hardness changes. Maintain stable, species-appropriate mineral content; different freshwater shrimp do not share one water-chemistry recipe.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is native to Japan and Taiwan. Its common names include Yamato shrimp, Japanese shrimp, Amano shrimp, and algae shrimp.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Caridina multidentata” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Caridina multidentata is a species of shrimp in the family Atyidae. It is native to Japan and Taiwan. Its common names include Yamato shrimp, Japanese shrimp, Amano shrimp, and algae shrimp. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Subtropical Northwest Pacific: Japan and Taiwan. — SeaLifeBase |
| Appearance and size | Caridina multidentata are freshwater shrimp in the family Atyidae and are commonly found in southwestern Japan. They typically grow to 25–35 mm. This species of shrimp is amphidromous. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 85°F (up to 87°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 52°F (down to 29°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 55–73°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 75–84% on average (driest month about 77%) |
| Rainfall | about 2500 mm a year |
Measured at 27 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
Sources for this sheet
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- University of Florida IFAS: Use of Copper in Marine Aquaculture and Aquarium Systems Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Aquarium Co-Op: Amano Shrimp Care Guide Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Aquarium Co-Op: Cherry Shrimp—Tank Setup, Food, and Breeding Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Okuno & Bruce 2010: Designation of Ancylomenes gen. nov. Peer-reviewed researchAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- WoRMS/DecaNet: Hymenocera picta Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- SeaLifeBase (Palomares & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchFishBase's sister database for non-fish marine and freshwater life; values are referenced.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Peer-reviewed researchInternational scientific taxonomy used here for classification.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
