Yamato Shrimp

fish description – Yamato Shrimp Care Guide ($Caridina\ multidentata$)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Caridina\ multidentata$ (formerly $C.\ japonica$)
Common Name	Yamato Shrimp, Amano Shrimp, Japanese Marsh Shrimp
Origin	River systems of Japan, Taiwan, and Korea
Adult Size	1.5–2 inches (4–5 cm)
Temperament	Peaceful, highly active, non-aggressive scavenger
Lifespan	2–5 years
Care Level	Easy (Hardy and adaptable)

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: This shrimp is translucent, ranging from clear to grey-blue or tan, often with a subtle white or yellow stripe running down its back. Its body is marked with a pattern of small dark dots (males) or short dashes (females) along its sides.
• Coloration: Translucent with subtle gray or tan tint (color can be affected by diet). Females are generally larger and display a pattern of broken dashes on their sides. Males are smaller and have a pattern of distinct dots along their sides.
• Fins: N/A (Crustacean). Females are visibly larger with a deeper, rounder underside used to carry eggs (“berried”).
• Behavior: Extremely hardy and highly active, spending its entire day foraging and picking at surfaces. They are not shy and are one of the few shrimp species that will actively tackle tough algae like BBA. They are not known to breed in home aquariums.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons (40 liters) is the minimum for a small group (3–5). A 20-gallon tank or larger is better to house a working cleanup crew and maintain stability.
• Schooling: Highly social; best kept in a group of at least 3–5 individuals to feel secure. They often steal food from each other and other tank mates.
• Temperature: Wide tolerance range: $60^\circ$–$82^\circ\text{F}\ (15^\circ$–$28^\circ\text{C})$ (ideal $72^\circ$–$78^\circ\text{F}$).
• pH Level: Highly adaptable: 6.5 to 8.0. They are hardy but require zero Ammonia and Nitrite. They need minerals for molting (calcium/magnesium).
• Aquascape: Requires a mature, fully cycled tank. Provide plenty of hiding spots (especially important when molting) using driftwood, rocks, and dense live plants. Unlike Neocaridina, they are not prone to being sucked into filters due to their larger size, but intake covers are still recommended for safety. A secure lid is mandatory as they are skilled escape artists.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Yamato Shrimp is an omnivorous scavenger famous for its appetite.

• Staple Diet: Feeds primarily on algae (including hair algae) and biofilm. This is their main job and supplement alone is not enough.
• Supplementation: Calcium is essential for shell health. Supplement 3–4 times weekly with high-quality algae wafers, blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach), and general shrimp pellets. They also readily consume leftover fish food.
• Schedule: Feed small amounts once daily. If they stop consuming algae, cut back on prepared foods to encourage them to graze.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Copper is lethal and must be avoided. Although peaceful, their size can make them a target for larger, aggressive fish. They may be boisterous and steal food from other slow-moving shrimp or fish.
• Breeding Note: Breeding requires brackish water (saltwater mixed with fresh) to raise the larvae, so population control is not an issue in a standard freshwater tank.
• Good Tank Mates: Peaceful fish too large to eat them. Examples include Snails, Otocinclus catfish, Corydoras catfish, Bristlenose Plecos, peaceful Gouramis, and non-breeding Neocaridina shrimp (they will not interbreed).