Why is my Bamboo Shrimp picking at the gravel?

If your Bamboo Shrimp is picking at the substrate with closed fans, it is a sign that there is not enough suspended food in the water column or the water flow is too weak. This behaviour indicates starvation, and you should immediately supplement their diet with powdered foods in the current.

How often do Bamboo Shrimp moult?

Adults generally moult every 1 to 2 months. During this time, they will hide away for a few days until their new exoskeleton hardens, as they are highly vulnerable to tankmates while soft.

Can I keep them with Betta fish?

It is possible but carries a risk. While the shrimp is too large for a Betta to eat, an aggressive or curious Betta may nip at the shrimp's delicate feeding fans, which can cause severe stress and damage.

What is the best way to feed them?

The best method is to mix powdered spirulina, finely crushed high-quality flake, or liquid fry food with a little aquarium water, and use a pipette or syringe to gently release it into the water current upstream of where the shrimp is perched.

Do Bamboo Shrimp need a heater?

Yes, they are a tropical species originating from Southeast Asia and require a stable water temperature between 22°C and 28°C.

FreshwaterTropicalIntermediate

Bamboo Shrimp

Atyopsis moluccensis

A fascinating, peaceful freshwater filter-feeding shrimp with highly modified fan-like appendages for catching plankton.

List this species for sale Find Bamboo Shrimp near me

Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 22 – 28 °C
pH range: 6.5 – 7.5
Hardness: 6 – 15 dGH
Adult size: 7 – 10 cm
75L minimum to ensure adequate suspended particulate food: 75 litres+
Lifespan: 1 – 3 years
Diet: Omnivore / Filter feeder
Water flow: high
Preferred setup: Planted aquarium with strong current, featuring driftwood or rocks positioned directly in the filter flow to serve as feeding perches.

About the Bamboo Shrimp

The Bamboo Shrimp, also widely known as the Wood Shrimp or Singapore Flower Shrimp, is a captivating addition to mature freshwater aquariums. Recognisable by a woody stripe running down its back and its remarkable fan-like front claws, it offers an entirely different viewing experience compared to standard dwarf shrimp. Rather than actively foraging and picking at the substrate, these large shrimp position themselves in the water current to catch suspended food particles. Their peaceful nature and unique feeding habits make them a highly sought-after invertebrate for the community tank.

Find Bamboo Shrimp

Search current listings in your chosen area. If none are available, save an alert and we’ll let you know when a match is listed.

Find locally Check compatibility Add to a Setup

Availability alerts only use public sale listings. Adding this species to a Setup updates your private records.

Is it right for your tank?

Check Bamboo Shrimp against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Bamboo Shrimp comes from

Native range

Southeast Asia

Countries / regions

Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Habitat

Fast-flowing, well-oxygenated streams and rivers with rocky or woody substrates.

Widely distributed across tropical islands and mainland streams in Southeast Asia.

Similar species

Vampire Shrimp
Atya gabonensis
Amano Shrimp
Caridina multidentata

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

View all compatibility

Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Small, entirely peaceful mid-water swimmers that will not bother the shrimp.
Great
Amano Shrimp
Caridina multidentata
Fellow peaceful invertebrates that occupy a different feeding niche without competing for suspended food.
Great
Corydoras
Corydoras spp.
Placid bottom-dwellers that completely ignore the shrimp perched above them.
Great
Siamese Fighting Fish
Betta splendens
While the shrimp are large, a curious or aggressive Betta may nip at their delicate feeding fans.
Compatible with caution
Tiger Barb
Puntigrus tetrazona
Notorious nippers that are highly likely to damage the shrimp's delicate feeding appendages.
Not recommended
Oscar
Astronotus ocellatus
Large, predatory cichlids will view the shrimp as a natural and expensive food source.
Not recommended

Current marketplace listings

Checking the marketplace…

See all Bamboo Shrimp listings

Public Wanted requests

No open requests for Bamboo Shrimp in this market yet.

Looking for Bamboo Shrimp?

Search current listings near you, or post a wanted request so local sellers know what you’re looking for.

Search Bamboo Shrimp listings Post a wanted request