Shrimp are a staple part of many aquarist’s tanks because they help keep aquariums clean and algae-free. Amano shrimp in particular have become one of the favorite shrimp species in the last decade due to their ability to eat large amounts of algae and because they have few care and maintenance needs. Amano shrimp are docile, peaceful, and quiet and make ideal tank mates for a variety of fish species.
That said, Amano shrimp are happiest with other members of their own shrimp species and need plenty of space to thrive. The number of Amano shrimp that are suitable per gallon of water depends on your unique aquarium and what other fish you are keeping. In this article, we look at some of these factors so you can estimate how many Amano shrimp are suitable for your home aquarium. Let’s get started!
Table of contents
How many Amano shrimp are suitable per gallon of water?
In general, one Amano per 2-3 gallons is suitable, with a minimum baseline of 10 gallons. Since Amano shrimp like to live in small groups, or troupes, you’ll want to keep at least five or six in your aquarium at once, so you’ll need a tank of at least 20 gallons as a minimum starting point. Since Amano shrimp spend most of their time at the bottom of the tank eating algae and scavenging leftover food, you can easily keep them with a suitable number of fish species in your tank.
Here is a basic rundown of the space that you’ll need for keeping Amano shrimp:
| Aquarium Capacity (gallons) | Ideal Amano count |
| 20 | 6 or less |
| 30 | 10 or less |
| 40 | 13-15 or less |
| 50 | 18-20 or less |
| 60 | 20-23 or less |
What does Amano shrimp eat?
In general, Amano shrimp feed mainly off of algae, and this is why it’s important to not overstock your tank with shrimp. If your tank is overpopulated with Amano, they may begin to fight the fish in your tank for food. Amano shrimp are omnivores and will eat almost anything, so besides their staple of algae, they’ll clean up all your fish’s leftover food too. Depending on the number of fish and shrimp in your tank, you may need to give them supplemental food, such as high-quality shrimp pellets or even raw vegetables.
Amano shrimp tankmates
Amano shrimp can live peacefully and happily with most fish species, but they are fairly small shrimp — 1-2 inches — and may be seen as prey by large, predatory fish. If the fish can fit an Amano shrimp in their mouth, your shrimp are definitely at risk of being eaten. These include fish like Bettas, large Plecos, and Gourami.
- Bristlenose Pleco
- Tetras (neon)
- Discus
- Tiger Barbs
- Cory catfish
- Cherry Shrimp
- Ghost Shrimp
Amano shrimp lifespan
It’s highly unlikely that your Amano shrimp will breed in your community tank because they require brackish water for breeding, so breeding them in captivity is notoriously difficult. So, your tank will likely not be overpopulated with Amanos unless you add too many, and they will probably live out their entire lives in your tank without reproducing. Depending on the tank conditions, Amano shrimp typically live for 2-5 years, and the most vulnerable time for them is the first few days after they’ve been added to your tank. If they survive the first few days or weeks, though, they will most likely live a long life. Most Amano have an average lifespan of 3 years, but with proper care, they are known to live for up to 5 years.
Conclusion
In general, one Amano shrimp per 2-3 gallons of water is a good rule of thumb, with a minimum tank requirement of 10 gallons, as you’ll need to keep them in groups of at least five to six shrimp. However, this is the bare minimum requirement, and there is a difference between thriving and surviving. We recommend a baseline of a 20-gallon tank with five to eight shrimp to make sure they have the space and food that they require. Amano shrimp are hardy and easy to look after and make great additions to any community tank!
Featured Image Credit: Dan Olsen, Shutterstock
