Vampire Shrimp
Atya gabonensis
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A large, gentle filter feeder with an intimidating name and absolutely no bite. It catches floating food on fans on its arms, so it needs a mature tank with some flow. It is shy and hides often in the day, and it pairs best with small, peaceful fish.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 20 US gal
- Temperature
- 75–85 °F
- pH
- 6.5–7.8
- Hardness
- No figure published
- Swim zone
- Bottom
- Min group
- Single fish
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
Vampire Shrimp care mistakes to avoid
- Add it only to a mature tank with plenty of fine particles to filter.
- Provide a spot with gentle flow, where it can sit and catch food on its fans.
- Keep nippy fish away, as its delicate fans are easy targets.
- Keep copper out of the tank, because it is fatal to shrimp.
Vampire Shrimp tank mates
Paracheirodon axelrodi
Hyphessobrycon amandae
Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi
Hemigrammus erythrozonus
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Boraras brigittae
Paracheirodon innesi
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Danio rerio
Their temperature ranges barely overlap, so you will have little room for error.
Barbodes semifasciolatus
Large shrimp like Vampire Shrimp are usually safe from Gold Barb, but may be nipped or harassed.
Xiphophorus hellerii
Large shrimp like Vampire Shrimp are usually safe from Swordtail, but may be nipped or harassed.
Tanichthys albonubes
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Pea puffers hunt snails and shrimp as natural food, so Vampire Shrimp is at risk.
Common tank-mate questions
How to feed
- Provide fine floating food such as powdered shrimp food.
- Add quick-dissolving algae tablets near where it sits.
- Squeeze a filter sponge into the tank occasionally, to release the fine particles it eats.
Vampire Shrimp FAQ
What size tank do Vampire Shrimp need?
Our sourced minimum is 20 US gallons (76 liters). A bigger, mature tank is always easier to keep stable.
What can live with Vampire Shrimp?
Good matches on our list include Cardinal Tetra, Ember Tetra and Black Neon Tetra. Avoid White Cloud Mountain Minnow and Pea Puffer.
How long do Vampire Shrimp live?
Lifespan is not well documented for this species. Stable water and a good diet help any animal live longer.
Are vampire shrimp dangerous?
Not at all. Despite the name they cannot bite, and they eat only tiny particles filtered from the water.
Where to buy Vampire Shrimp
Stores that list it under the same scientific name as this page. We earn nothing from these links. We have not bought from them, so check each store's own terms.
We have not found a store that sells Vampire Shrimp under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Complete the tank
A forgiving setup with room for a small community.
Tank size for this species
At least 20 US gallons (76 L)
Filter
Hang-on-back or large sponge filter
Easy to maintain and strong enough for a community without blasting the fish.
We are still choosing products for this.
Heater
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 100 W at 20 gallons, about 150 W at 29
Enough power to hold a stable temperature in most homes. Size up for a cold room.
We are still choosing products for this.
Water Conditioner
Dechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Maker's page · Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test Kit
Liquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
Maker's page · Sold at The Shrimp Farm · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.