How Many Amano Shrimp Per Gallon Can You Keep? A Helpful Guide

Amano shrimp are a popular freshwater aquarium shrimp prized for their algae-eating abilities. But with their growing popularity, many aquarists wonder – how many of these shrimp can you house per gallon of tank water? In this article, we’ll look at the factors to consider when stocking Amano shrimp and give guidelines for how many you can maintain per gallon based on tank size

An Overview of Amano Shrimp

Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata) are native to Japan and Taiwan They were introduced to the aquarium trade by renowned aquarist Takashi Amano in the 1980s,

These translucent brownish-grey shrimp reach sizes of 2 inches as adults. They are peaceful shrimp that make excellent tank cleaners.

Amanos use their fan-like front feeding appendages to scrape algae off surfaces. They also sift through substrate eating debris. This helps control nuisance algae and keeps tanks spotless.

In addition to algae, Amanos eat supplemental foods like algae wafers, vegetables and sinking pellets. They are not fussy eaters.

While excellent algae management is their claim to fame, Amanos also:

• Are non-aggressive and safe with fish, small shrimp and snails
• Tolerate a wide temperature range of 65-85°F
• Can live 2-3 years with proper care

Their versatility and cleaning skills make them a popular addition to community tanks. But how many is too many for your tank?

Factors That Determine Stocking Density

The number of Amano shrimp that can be housed per gallon depends on a few key factors

1. Tank Size

Tank size dictates how many Amanos can coexist happily. Here are some general guidelines:

• 10 gallon tank – 1-2 Amanos per gallon
• 20 gallon tank – 1-1.5 Amanos per gallon
• 30+ gallon tank – 1 Amano per 2 gallons

Bigger is always better. In smaller tanks, fluctuations in water parameters occur more easily. Larger volumes of water are more stable allowing for a higher stocking density.

2. Existing Tank Inhabitants

If the tank already contains fish or other creatures, the number of Amanos must be reduced to account for them.

As a general rule, only add shrimp to fill about 50% of the available tank space. The other 50% should be left open for fish.

Also avoid shrimp-eating species like cichlids, goldfish and large catfish. These will quickly prey on Amanos.

3. Filtration Capacity

Heavily stocked tanks create more waste, so filtration capacity must be increased.

Make sure your filter can handle the bioload of existing fish plus additional shrimp. Add extra media like sponges or ceramic bio rings if needed.

4. Plants and Decorations

While Amanos enjoy open swimming space, they also need places to perch and hide. Having ample plants and decorations makes them feel secure.

If your tank is bare, you’ll need to limit shrimp numbers so they have room to spread out. A heavily decorated tank can accommodate more.

5. Supplemental Feeding

While Amanos eat a lot of algae, they still need protein-rich foods to thrive. Be prepared to feed sinking pellets, blanched veggies and supplements.

If the tank is lacking enough natural food sources, the number of shrimp it can support will be lower. Provide more if the population is large.

Amano Shrimp per Gallon: Stocking Guidelines

Now that we’ve covered the factors that influence capacity, let’s look at some general stocking guidelines for Amano shrimp per gallon.

The recommended numbers below assume:

• The tank is established and cycled
• Additional tank inhabitants take up 50% space
• The tank has plants, driftwood and other hiding spots
• Supplemental shrimp foods are provided regularly

10 gallon tank

• Total Amanos: 5-10
• Shrimp per gallon: 1-2

20 gallon tank

• Total Amanos: 15-20
• Shrimp per gallon: 1-1.5

30 gallon tank

• Total Amanos: 20-25
• Shrimp per gallon: 1-1.25

40+ gallon tank

• Total Amanos: 30+
• Shrimp per gallon: 1

These numbers are general guidelines, not absolute limits. Monitor water parameters and shrimp behavior. Reduce quantities if ammonia/nitrites start accumulating or aggression occurs.

Setting up an Amano Shrimp Tank

To successfully keep Amanos, its important to set up their tank properly. Here are some tips:

• Cycling – Fully cycle the tank before adding Amanos. Ammonia and nitrites from fishless cycling won’t harm them.

• Water parameters – Maintain pH between 6.5-7.5, hardness 6-10 dGH, temperature 70-78°F.

• Filtration – Use a quality hang-on-back or canister filter sized for the tank. Clean regularly.

• Plants – Include hardy plants like java fern, anubias, mosses and Amazon sword. They appreciate the biofilm.

• Hiding spots – Provide plenty of driftwood, rocks, coconut caves and cholla wood sticks.

• Substrate – Use a fine gravel or sand substrate. Avoid sharp substrates that can harm them.

• Acclimate new arrivals – Float bagged shrimp to equalize temperature, then slowly add tank water to the bag over an hour before release.

Start with a small group of young Amanos. Add more gradually over several weeks to give the population time to stabilize.

Be patient and let the tank mature before expanding. Jumping to maximum capacity right away can overwhelm the biofilter.

Ideal Tank Mates for Amano Shrimp

Amanos are peaceful shrimp that can be mixed with many freshwater fish and invertebrates. Good tank mates include:

• Small community fish like guppies, neon tetras, rasboras, danios and white cloud minnows
• Bottom dwellers like kuhli loaches, pygmy corydoras and Otocinclus catfish
• Snails like nerites, mystery snails and rabbit snails
• Peaceful shrimp like red cherry shrimp, ghost shrimp and vampire shrimp
• Docile cichlids like rams, apistos and angelfish (if well fed)

Avoid known shrimp eaters like cichlids, goldfish, loaches and large catfish. Also don’t mix with aggressive fish like tiger barbs that may nibble at their antennae.

Caring for Amano Shrimp

Caring for these shrimp properly ensures they live a long healthy life:

• Perform regular partial water changes of 20-30% weekly
• Use a gravel vacuum to remove waste and uneaten food
• Clean the filter monthly to remove gunk and maintain flow
• Test water parameters weekly and correct any issues
• Provide a balanced shrimp diet with algae wafers, blanched veggies and shrimp pellets
• Supplement their diet with calcium-rich foods like spinach and kale
• Prune plants to prevent overgrowth and allow algae growth

Well cared for Amanos will thrive for 2-3 years. Their high activity level and vigorous algae eating showcases their good health.

Breeding Amano Shrimp

While Amanos are easy to keep, breeding them in home aquariums is tricky. They have a complex life cycle:

• Eggs hatch into zoea larvae that require brackish water to mature

• After several planktonic larval stages, they transition into juvenile shrimp

• Once they gain their adult freshwater form, they can be moved back into freshwater tanks

Simulating this lifecycle requires setting up a separate brackish breeding tank with precise salt levels. This complex process is difficult for the average hobbyist.

Luckily, with their 2-3 year lifespan, you don’t need to breed Amanos to enjoy keeping them long-term. They can simply be replaced as older shrimp pass away.

Finding the Sweet Spot for Your Tank

Determining how many Amano shrimp you can house per gallon takes some fine tuning. Start conservatively then increase numbers slowly over time.

Observe shrimp behavior and test water parameters weekly. This helps you hone in on the ideal population your tank can support.

With their excellent algae eating services and peaceful personality, a herd of Amanos can be a huge asset in your freshwater aquarium. Follow these guidelines and you’ll find the perfect stocking level to keep your tank spotless.