SDMatt

Hi,

I just visted my LFS, and came upon something interesting. They are selling shrimp that they're calling "Algae Eating Shrimp".

These shimp look a lot like a ghost shrimp - but they cost about 4 times what I've seen ghosties go for.

I asked their employee about them... specifically, if they required special care - and how well they did with ridding the tank of algae. She said they get along great with tropicals, provided I didn't have fish that might want to eat them.. and that they "went nuts" and would keep my tank clean.

I was in a hurry, so I didn't quiz her further. So tonight I'm looking into this shrimp on fishlore, and they make no mention of it with a fish profile page. I did lookup the ghost shrimp - and it states specifically that ghosties don't make for good algae eaters.

Is my LFS trying to pull a fast one?

I've read that saltwater shrimp requre iodine to molt (or shed there skin). Do these freshwater shrimp need anything special?

Thanks,
Matt

MrWaxhead

No they are not pulling a fast one on you, they probably have Caridina japonica, or amano / japonica / Yamato Shrimp. I have 10 in my 50g, and and they are pretty effective algae eaters. I also keep a true SAE and just added 6 ottos. But I do have to feed mine algae wafers most of the time as I don't really have any algae in my tanks. They actively duke it out with my corries for wafers hehe. Not in a bad way they just swarm the wafers with them, and the bigger ones actually pack the wafers away hehe.

On the odd time, I get algae, like if my c02 runs out and I don't notice for a couple days, they actively eat algae that starts to form, I get my c02 back up and don't feed wafers until the tank is clean again.
image:

link to info on them,
http://www.petshrimp.com/amanoshrimp.html

sirdarksol

These little guys are great. I love them. Mostly what they eat are the hair-like algae, but they'll also eat extra bits and pieces of food that fall to the bottom of the tank. Their most common name is Amano shrimp. I don't know if this is because Amano-san was the first person to use them in fish tanks, but it seems likely.
There are dozens of different breeds out there. I want to get my hands on the "Ninja Amano", they change colors. Unfortunately, there aren't any sellers that carry them outside of Japan

SDMatt

Thanks guys,

After comparing the pics of an amano and a ghost I can see the difference.

I didn't think my LFS would scam me, but they're new to me after being out of the hobby for 10 years.

I like it when LFS's post the scientific name along with the common name. Try google-ing algae eating shrimp.. you get a ton of useless hits. Now had I googled anamo shrimp, I would've gotten something useful.

Fishlore's user forum ROCKS!

-Matt

MrWaxhead

Nice, they are good shrimp in a tank that has community fish that would snack on small shrimp like cherries to as they get a fair bit bigger. They will get a couple inches long very fast.

mbrigha1

do they eat all types of algae? like brown algae specifically?

armadillo

I know ours eat the black algae.

Isabella

Mr. Waxhead, how are the Otos getting along with the true SAE? I've actually considered having a few Otos + 1 true SAE but I think I've read that SAEs are shoaling fish and should be kept in groups. Is that true? If so, how is your SAE doing alone?

MrWaxhead

Mine is fine alone, when I looked into getting one, everything I saw said singles or groups that 2 or 3 was a bad choice, ie 1 or a little shoal.

MrWaxhead

Oh, and he is fine with the ottos, no problem at all.

Isabella

That sounds great

neverendingninja

My single SAE pesters my otos a little, but it seems all very friendly, in that he just wants to be a part of the group, since they look so similar. I was talking to someone at the LFS today, and she said hers are VERY happy in a group of 3. I think people make too much fuss about SAEs, as if you have to have magic powers to keep them alive and happy. Really, just acclimate well, and have the right parameters, and I think you're good. Just my opinion.

I want some amano shrimp, I just don't want them to be eaten by my fish.