Flower (Bamboo) Shrimp

Flower shrimp, also called bamboo shrimp, wood shrimp and Singapore shrimp, are hardy and popular filter shrimp, feeding off detritus floating in the tank water. These exotic shrimp have a beautiful segmented orange color pattern on the body (hence the common name bamboo). Flower shrimp are peaceful and grow large enough to keep with most community species, except of course aggressive cichlids and predator species. Flower shrimp are wild-caught in Singapore.

In the aquarium, flower shrimp will find a location to settle and filter food from flowing water. They may look big, but they are gentle and will not harm smaller tankmates.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Filter shrimp catch food with fan-like hands, so they need a mature tank of at least 20 gallons with steady current (near a filter outlet or powerhead) and rocks or driftwood to perch on. If they pick at the substrate instead of fanning, they may be hungry; add powdered foods near the current.

Feeding: Feed fine powdered foods, crushed flake or specialty filter-feeder food a few times a week, released upstream near the current so the shrimp can catch it.

Tankmates: They do well in peaceful community tanks with tetras, rasboras, gouramis and corydoras. Avoid fish that pick at invertebrates, like large cichlids, puffers and loaches.

Good to know: Filter shrimp molt regularly and may hide for a day or two afterward. Never treat their tank with copper-based medications.