Vampire Shrimp, scientifically known as Atya gabonensis, are also known as African Fan Shrimp, Giant African Fan Shrimp, African Filter Shrimp, Giant African Filter Shrimp, Gabon Shrimp, or Viper Shrimp. They are natives of parts of Western Africa and parts of South America. Despite their fearsome name and appearance, they're not aggressive. Their name might sound intimidating, but vampire shrimp are actually extremely peaceful creatures.
Vampire Shrimp are fan feeders that snatch their food from the water current in the tank with their little fanned hands. They are peaceful, tranquil, on the shy side and they like little places to hide. At the same time, Vampire Shrimp seems to be very social with other filter shrimp.
Tank Setup and Requirements
The most important thing to keep in mind when figuring out vampire shrimp care and requirements is the fact that these are shy filter feeders. So how do you set up your aquarium in such a way that allows your Atya gabonensis to stay well-fed and happy? First off, size is important. With an adult size of up to 6 inches, these shrimp are rather large and they need plenty of room. Go for at least a 20 gallon aquarium; larger is better. Of the 20 gallon tanks, a 20 gallon long tank can be a good choice because the dimensions are 30 x 12 x 12. A 30 inch length means there is a decent amount of aquarium bottom to walk on.
Because vampire shrimp love plenty of cover, make sure your tank is heavily decorated with lots of plants, caves and hides. Vampire Shrimp need a decent amount of water volume to feed, so the bigger the tank, the better. Keeping a tank well planted is a good idea because live aquarium plants shed little bits of edible matter into the tank water. Live plants also give shrimp places to explore, climb on and hide in. Live aquarium plants also prevent the tank from becoming “too clean”. They also seem to be healthy with aquarium water that is on the hard side, with a constantly moving oxygen rich current.
Although vampire shrimp obviously aren't a fan of very clear and clean water, this doesn't mean they don't need high water quality. As with all shrimp and fish, your aquarium should always be fully cycled before you even consider adding livestock. Keep Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate levels in check. Keep water parameters stable, and be careful with medications. Vampire Shrimp care is generally the same as with other types of aquarium shrimp. Avoid copper as it is fatal.
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Feeding Vampire Shrimp
With picky eaters like these, it's very important to pay close attention to their diet. They need access to floating particles, as regular shrimp foods are too large for their fans. There are a few ways to keep your Atya gabonensis well-fed; a combination of these is probably ideal.
First off, regularly give your filter sponge a good squeeze inside the tank. This is normally a big no, but vampire shrimp will love to feed on the gunk that is released. Second, try to find some (algae) tabs that dissolve quickly. This is also normally considered a nuisance, as it deposits dust everywhere, but fan shrimp will flock towards the particle cloud. A third food option would be baby shrimp food, or any other tiny food options you can find.
Vampire Shrimp food consists mainly of edible plant matter in the water, bits of otherwise uneaten fish food, and probably tiny edible microorganisms floating in the tank that are too small to be seen. In addition to this, it’s also a good idea to supplement their diet with food made up of finely ground fish pellets, shrimp pellets, finely ground algae wafers, or small flakes. These can be ground into a fine powder and added to the current upstream of the Vampire Shrimp. A pinch or two at the time will cause the food particles hit the shrimp square in its filter fans. For a treat feed them small brine shrimp.
Tank Mates
Vampire shrimp are large enough to be left alone by most fish and have a very peaceful temperament, which means there are some options when it comes to tankmates. Do choose wisely, though, as they are shy and don't like to be bothered. Small, peaceful fish and inverts are probably your best options. Other shrimp are an especially good option: your Atya gabonensis will love to forage alongside the similar bamboo shrimp, which are also filter feeders.
Vampire Shrimp tank mates can include others of their kind as well as other freshwater aquarium shrimp the likes of Bamboo Shrimp, Amano Shrimp, Red Cherry Shrimp, and Ghost Shrimp. Tank mates can also include freshwater snails like Malaysian Trumpet Snails, Ramshorn Snails, Mystery Snails, Gold Inca Snails, Ivory Snails and Nerite Snails. Some non-aggressive community tank fish can work as well. Care must be taken to not mix Vampire Shrimp aquarium crayfish and other roughens like cichlids or Goldfish, as the Vampire Shrimp may end up being a tasty appetizer.
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Breeding
As with many other shrimp species, like Amano shrimp, breeding Atya gabonensis is quite the challenge. They hatch in salt water, pass through a larval stage and gradually need to be switched to fresh water. They are reported to require brackish water to successfully breed, or at least for the eggs to hatch.
How to Set Up a Tank for Vampire Shrimp | Unboxing, Filter Flow Design, and Acclimation Tips
Additional Information
Vampire Shrimp Size and Appearance
Vampire Shrimp size is generally about two to three inches in length, although some claim that lengths up to six inches is possible. Another observation about Vampire Shrimp size is that they are “thicker” looking that other aquarium shrimp. Compared to the thinner and more streamlined Bamboo Shrimp, Vampire Shrimp look more “heavy-duty” shell-wise.
Another interesting observation is that they have little bumpy points on their sides of their legs, and one larger point on the end of their legs. Perhaps these points are necessary to help wild Vampire Shrimp hold on to wood, rocks or sticks as they face strong currents. In any event, the heavy duty look and points on their legs give Vampire Shrimp a menacing appearance. But nothing can be further from the truth. Vampire Shrimp also have long slender antennae on the top of their heads.
Vampire Shrimp Color
Vampire Shrimp color ranges between a light blue-ish grey and darker shades of blue-ish grey. Sometimes their color can shift to have a cream color, a pink color, or even a hint of green added in. Other possible colors can include a rusty maroon or brown, and even straight blue.
Vampire Shrimp Lifespan
Vampire Shrimp lifespan varies, but some can live a pretty long time. I have had some that lived for three years and I’ve heard stories where some have been pushing five years. If a tank is stable and healthy and the shrimp is well fed and cared for, he (or she) should last a pretty long time. That said, its not uncommon for Vampire Shrimp to die shortly after being added to a tank. Perhaps it’s due to the differences in the home tank water compared to the display tank water. Or it could also be due to the stress of being transported, or just the condition of the shrimp itself.
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Vampire Shrimp Molting
Vampire Shrimp molting seems to occur once every couple of months. It will grow a new shell under his present one. When molting occurs, the shrimp will crack out of its old shell leaving it behind. During the molting process, a Vampire Shrimp probably feels very vulnerable. So it will look for a quiet and safe place to hide. After a Vampire Shrimp sheds its old shell it will appear empty, either stuck in some plants or on the bottom of the tank. Many hobbyists new to shrimp keeping may think that the shrimp has died. This is not the case.
With some molted shells, it’s a good idea to leave the empty shell in the tank for a day or so, because other shrimp seem to like to eat the discarded shell. This is especially true with Amano Shrimp shells which are soft and easily eaten. Shrimp often re-ingest the minerals in the discarded shells to help them get ready for their next molt. Viper Shrimp shells are tougher, however. Other shrimp do not seem to be as interested in re-ingesting the minerals from these shells. Perhaps the discarded Viper Shrimp shells are too hard and tough to eat. In any event, leaving the shell in for a while is worth a try.
Are vampire shrimp aggressive?
Despite their fearsome name and appearance, they're not. Vampire shrimp are peaceful detritus eaters.
Can vampire shrimp live alone?
Yes, they can. This being said, we prefer keeping multiple!
