Quick answer: The bamboo shrimp (Atyopsis moluccensis), also called the wood shrimp or fan shrimp, is a large, peaceful, fascinating freshwater shrimp that feeds in a completely different way from every other shrimp. Instead of scavenging the bottom, it perches in the current and filters tiny food particles from the water with fan-like hands. That single fact drives everything. Bamboo shrimp are not algae eaters or cleanup crew, and the number one reason they die is starvation. Give them strong flow, a perch in the current, and regular powdered food, keep them with peaceful tankmates in at least a 20 gallon tank, and they do beautifully.
Bamboo shrimp at a glance
| Detail | Bamboo shrimp |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Atyopsis moluccensis |
| Also called | Wood shrimp, fan shrimp, Singapore shrimp |
| Adult size | Up to 3 to 4 inches |
| Lifespan | Around 1 to 2 years |
| Temperature | 75 to 81 F (24 to 27 C) |
| pH | 6.5 to 8.0, moderately hard |
| Minimum tank | 20 gallons, long rather than tall |
| Diet | Filter feeder, not an algae eater |
| Temperament | Peaceful and defenseless |
| Care level | Moderate, feeding is the challenge |
The one thing to understand: they are filter feeders
If you take away one thing from this guide, make it this. Bamboo shrimp are filter feeders, not scavengers. They do not graze algae or biofilm, and they cannot eat sinking pellets the way other shrimp do. Instead they use fan-like front legs to catch fine food particles drifting in the water, perching in a current and rhythmically sweeping their fans through it. Watching one fan-feed is one of the best sights in the hobby.
This is also why so many bamboo shrimp quietly die. In a tank with no flow or no suspended food, they simply starve. And there is a clear warning sign for it: a bamboo shrimp that is crawling around on the substrate picking at the ground, instead of sitting up in the current and fanning, is hungry. A healthy, well-fed bamboo shrimp spends its time perched and filtering. One that is walking the bottom is telling you it cannot find enough food, and that is the moment to fix the flow and feeding before it wastes away.
What bamboo shrimp look like
Bamboo shrimp are one of the largest freshwater shrimp in the hobby, reaching around 3 to 4 inches. They are reddish-brown to tan with a pale cream stripe running down the back, giving them a woodgrain look that suits the “wood shrimp” name. Their standout feature is the pair of fan-like hands they unfold to feed. They can also shift color somewhat, from pale to deep red, often around molting or with mood and conditions, so do not be alarmed by a color change on its own. Their size is actually an advantage, since it makes them too big for many fish to bother.
Setting up the tank
The tank is built around their feeding, so a few things matter more than usual.
- At least 20 gallons, and long rather than tall. They are big shrimp that need water volume, and in a long tank food travels along the current to them instead of sinking away in deep water.
- Strong flow. This is not optional. Current is what carries food to their fans, so position your filter output or add a powerhead to create a good flowing area.
- A perch in the current. Give them a raised spot to cling to while they feed, like a piece of driftwood or a tall rock placed in the flow. Our fish tank decorations guide covers safe wood and rock for this.
- Plants and hides. Plants and cover give them somewhere calm to rest between feeding sessions. Our low light aquarium plants and java moss guides suit a shrimp tank well.
- A cycled, stable, copper-free tank. Like all shrimp, they are sensitive to poor water and copper is fatal, so never use copper-based medications or fertilizers, and cycle fully before adding them.
A 20 gallon fish tank is a solid starting point for one or a small group.
Water parameters
Keep the temperature between 75 and 81 F, the pH between 6.5 and 8.0, and the water moderately hard, since the minerals help them molt. Ammonia and nitrite must stay at zero, and nitrate should be kept low, under about 10, with regular water changes. Stable, clean water matters, because a big filter-feeding shrimp is not something you want stressed by swings in the tank.
Feeding: the part that actually keeps them alive
Because bamboo shrimp filter fine particles, you have to put fine particles in the water. They cannot survive on the pellets and wafers that feed other shrimp.
| Good powdered or suspended foods | Notes |
|---|---|
| Spirulina powder | A reliable staple |
| Finely crushed flakes | Crush to a near-dust so it stays suspended |
| Powdered fry foods (roughly 5 to 50 micron) | Small enough to drift in the current |
| Dedicated filter-feeder or invertebrate powders | Made specifically for fan shrimp |
| Liquid invertebrate food | Adds fine particles straight to the water |
To feed, mix a little powdered food with tank water and gently squirt it into the current upstream of your shrimp so the particles drift past their fans. Feed regularly, since in a clean, well-filtered tank there is often not enough natural food floating around to sustain them. If you ever see them abandon their perch to sift the substrate, that is your cue to feed more.
Molting
Like all shrimp, bamboo shrimp grow by molting, shedding their old shell to reveal a bigger one. You will find translucent shed shells and probably panic that a shrimp has died, but that is completely normal. A freshly molted shrimp is soft and vulnerable, so it needs cover and steady, mineral-rich water to harden its new shell. Failed molts, where a shrimp gets stuck, are the main risk, and they usually trace back to poor water or a lack of minerals. Keeping the water moderately hard, and adding oak or almond leaves, helps them molt cleanly.
Temperament and tank mates
Bamboo shrimp are completely peaceful, and importantly, completely defenseless. They have no claws or defenses, so their only protection is their size and good tankmates.
Good tank mates are peaceful community fish and other calm invertebrates: small tetras and rasboras, other shrimp, and snails all work well. Because bamboo shrimp are large, they are also safer around community fish than tiny dwarf shrimp are.
Avoid anything big or aggressive: cichlids, goldfish, large gouramis, crayfish, and any fish likely to harass or nip them. If you want a shrimp that actually eats algae rather than filter feeds, our algae eater fish guide and Amano shrimp guide cover better options for that job.
Breeding: why it almost never happens at home
Here is an honest expectation to set. You are very unlikely to breed bamboo shrimp in a home aquarium. Almost all the ones sold are wild-caught, because their larvae need brackish or saltwater conditions and very specific food to survive, which is extremely hard to recreate at home. Females do carry eggs, and you may see a berried female, but raising the larvae is a specialist project with a low success rate. Enjoy them as a display animal rather than a breeding project.
Common bamboo shrimp problems
- Walking the substrate instead of fan-feeding. The classic sign of starvation. Increase flow and feed more powdered food.
- Slowly wasting away. Almost always not enough suspended food. Bamboo shrimp starve quietly over weeks, so feed regularly from the start.
- Failed molts. Usually poor water or low minerals. Keep the water stable and moderately hard.
- Sudden death after a treatment. Often copper from a medication or fertilizer. Never use copper products with shrimp.
- Constant hiding. Some hiding is normal, but a shrimp that never comes out to feed in the current needs better flow and feeding.
FAQ
Do bamboo shrimp eat algae?
No. This is a common misconception. Bamboo shrimp are filter feeders that catch tiny particles from the water, not algae grazers. They will not clean your tank, and they need to be fed powdered foods to survive.
What do bamboo shrimp eat?
Fine, suspended food. Feed powdered foods like spirulina powder, finely crushed flakes, powdered fry foods, or dedicated filter-feeder powders, squirted into the current so the particles drift past their fans.
What size tank do bamboo shrimp need?
At least 20 gallons, and a long tank is better than a tall one, since food travels along the current to reach them more easily.
Do bamboo shrimp need water flow?
Yes, strong flow is essential. Current is what delivers food to their fans. Without it they cannot feed properly and will starve, so give them good flow and a perch to feed from.
Can bamboo shrimp live with fish?
Yes, with peaceful ones. They are gentle and defenseless, so keep them with calm community fish and avoid cichlids, goldfish, and anything large or aggressive.
Can you breed bamboo shrimp at home?
Almost never. Their larvae need brackish water and special conditions that are very hard to recreate, so nearly all bamboo shrimp are wild-caught and home breeding rarely succeeds.
