How can I tell the difference between a Whisker Shrimp and a Ghost Shrimp?

Whisker shrimp lack the orange or red bands on their antennae and front claws that Ghost Shrimp have. They also grow slightly larger and possess significantly longer front arms (chelipeds).

Will Whisker Shrimp eat my Cherry Shrimp?

Yes, they are highly opportunistic predators. If housed with smaller dwarf shrimp species like Cherry Shrimp, the Whisker Shrimp will actively hunt and eat them.

Why did my Whisker Shrimp turn white and die?

This is usually a sign of a failed moult, often caused by inadequate calcium levels in the water, sudden fluctuations in water parameters, or copper toxicity.

Do Whisker Shrimp need salt in their water to breed?

No, Macrobrachium lanchesteri is a true freshwater species. Its young develop entirely in fresh water without requiring a brackish larval stage.

Will they attack my fish?

They can and will attack slow-moving or long-finned fish, especially at night when fish are resting near the substrate. Keep them only with fast, short-finned mid-water swimmers.

FreshwaterTropicalBeginner

Whisker Shrimp

Macrobrachium lanchesteri

A fascinating but highly opportunistic freshwater shrimp, notorious for being sold as a peaceful 'Ghost Shrimp' while actually possessing predatory tendencies.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 22 – 28 °C
pH range: 6.5 – 8
Hardness: 6 – 15 dGH
Adult size: 4 – 7 cm
Nano: 30 litres+
Lifespan: 1 – 3 years
Diet: Omnivorous scavenger and opportunistic predator
Water flow: moderate
Preferred setup: Planted aquarium with plenty of caves, leaf litter, and driftwood for hiding during moulting.

About the Whisker Shrimp

The Whisker Shrimp (Macrobrachium lanchesteri) is frequently encountered in the aquarium trade, often mislabelled as the more docile Ghost Shrimp. True to their genus, these shrimp feature distinctively long 'arms' (chelipeds) and a largely transparent body. They are incredibly hardy and active, making for highly entertaining viewing, provided they are kept in the correct setup.

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Is it right for your tank?

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

Where Whisker Shrimp comes from

Native range

Southeast Asia, Mekong River Basin

Countries / regions

Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar

Habitat

Slow-moving rivers, streams, rice paddies, and flooded fields with dense vegetation.

Widely distributed throughout natural and man-made aquatic environments in Southeast Asia.

Similar species

Ghost Shrimp
Palaemonetes paludosus
Amano Shrimp
Caridina multidentata
Indian Chameleon Shrimp
Macrobrachium dayanum

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

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Zebra Danio
Danio rerio
Fast, mid-to-top dwelling fish that are too quick to be caught and lack long fins to be nipped.
Great
Black Skirt Tetra
Gymnocorymbus ternetzi
Robust enough to ignore the shrimp and active enough to stay out of reach.
Great
Harlequin Rasbora
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Peaceful, fast schooling fish that occupies the upper levels of the water column away from the shrimp's primary territory.
Great
Betta Fish
Betta splendens
Whisker shrimp are highly prone to nipping the long, trailing fins of resting Bettas, while large Bettas may attempt to eat the shrimp.
Compatible with caution
Bronze Corydoras
Corydoras aeneus
They share the bottom of the tank; slow-moving Corydoras may have their fins nipped by an aggressive adult shrimp.
Compatible with caution
Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Whisker shrimp are opportunistic predators and will actively hunt, kill, and eat smaller dwarf shrimp species.
Not recommended
Fancy Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
Slow-moving with long fins, they often sleep near the substrate, making them easy targets for predatory Whisker Shrimp.
Not recommended

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