Vampire Shrimp

The vampire shrimp looks like something that could eat your baby, but these are the gentlest creatures in the aquarium. These shrimp are wild-caught in Nigeria and live in rocks, where they filter out debris from the water for food. The vampire shrimp, or filter shrimp, is the world's largest freshwater filter shrimp and will not harm any other species. The scientific name gabonensis is from Gabon, where the shrimp was discovered. There are plenty in the wild, so please don't fret; we are keeping a fisherman in business and helping sustain a local natural economy. :)

Despite their pleasant disposition, these shrimp can handle even aggressive fish tanks if they have a place to hide.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

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

Feeding: Feed a fine powdered food or crushed flake, released 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.