How Big Do Amano Shrimps Get?

Amano shrimps are not like most other freshwater dwarf shrimps. They typically get much larger than other shrimps. I did some research and here’s what I found on how big Amano shrimps can get-

Amano shrimps can grow up to 2 inches or some more in length.  At fish stores, you will find Amano shrimps around 1 inch length or a little less than that.

In one sense, smaller Amano shrimps are the best ones to buy, because they can get acclimatized in your tank quickly and grow and get matured for breeding soon. But make sure you are buying healthy shrimps whatever the size be.

How Fast Do Amano Shrimps Grow?

Amano shrimps grow relatively quickly than other dwarf shrimps only if you can provide them a consistent and healthy environment in an established tank.

Amano Shrimp generally need 3 to 5 months to get mature for breeding. The speed of their growth can vary according to their genetic variants and the foods and supplements they are provided.

How Will Amano Shrimps Grow Fast To Get Its Maximum Size?

If you want to see your Amano shrimps grow fast and achieve their maximum size, try these popular and effective methods that the experienced shrimp keepers always do.

1. Provide A Quality Diet

To boost up the growth of your shrimps, you have to provide high-quality food that will contain all the nutrients to ensure their good health and proper growth.

I’m not sure if you know that they are one of the popular cleanup crews in the aquarium who will voluntarily consume algae, decaying plants, left-over food particles, dead fishes and snails. You will notice them constantly grazing and scavenging the bottom of the aquarium in search of food.

But, don’t think that they only need algae and food leftovers to live on. They are omnivorous in nature and require a balanced diet to grow up to their maximum expected size.

Depending upon your tank’s maturity, the number of shrimps and other inverts, and amounts of algae and plant debris you have to provide diet supplements like high-quality algae wafer, dried pellet, frozen foods (bloodworms and brine shrimp), shrimp pellets, fish pellets, fish food flakes, dead fish and snails, etc.

Blanched vegetables-cucumber, squash, zucchini, and spinach, etc, are great for providing them the necessary nutrients and minerals.

Live aquarium plants keep shedding edible matter for the shrimps. So too much clean aquarium will not be good for the shrimps. Moss balls and sponge filters in the tank catch food particles and edible materials which will be also a source of food for your shrimps.

Want the inside track on Amano Shrimp? This post is your go-to guide. Amano Shrimp Eggs Care: All Your Questions Answered

2. Keep Proper Maintenance

Though Amano Shrimps do not demand much care and attention, you have to keep an eye on these following facts to allow them to grow at their best.

Keep them in a freshwater mature and planted tanks

You should choose a freshwater established tank for them which is at least 10 gallons. In a 10 gallon tank, you can keep 5 Amano shrimps. The number will vary depending on the number of other shrimps and invertebrates (if any).

Maintain a good water quality

Most of the Amano shrimps are wild-caught thus they cannot put up with captivity easily. Though they are hardier than many shrimps and can adapt in a different situation, their health and metabolism develop noticeably when keeping in a suitable and consistent aquatic environment like below:

• pH level: 6.5 – 7.2.
• Temperature: 70°F – 80°F
• Water hardness: 6.0 – 8.0 dKH
• TDS-200 ppm

So, to help your shrimps grow quickly, you must maintain the quality of water.

Keep Ammonia and Nitrite very low

Ammonia and Nitrite can hinder the growth of your Amano shrimps. As you have to feed them every day, make sure you are not feeding them more than they need.

Like us, they also waste the excess food after they are contented. You have to remove the leftover foods that will help to keep the ammonia and nitrite level low.

Unlike shrimp ponds, you can easily do a water change in your shrimp tank to control the ammonia, nitrates, decomposing foods, and amount of metabolites. Therefore, always try to keep Ammonia and nitrite zero by changing the water twice a week.

They can withstand less than 20 ppm Nitrate so it is better to keep a distance from this limit with a frequent water change and keeping enough plants in the tank.

Resist copper from entering into your tank

Make sure you do not allow copper to your tank water with shrimp medications, foods, or water pipes. You can use dechlorinator because Amano Shrimps are very sensitive to chemical additives.

Provide enough grazing and hiding places in your tank

Make arrangements for enough grazing and hiding places for your Amano shrimps. They are comfortable in the open areas of your aquarium, but like the other shrimps, they will also want to feel secure behind a hiding place when they get stressed from a light, predator, or outside view of the tank(human being, cats, dogs, etc).

You can plant Java Moss and Green Cabomba and get shrimp tubes, stones/rocks, driftwoods in the tank to give them enough place to graze on with a secure feeling.

Provide moderate light, filter, and proper substrate

Use moderate light. Your shrimps will get disturbed in excess light. Standard community tank lighting is good to go with them. Small rocks and pebbles and a hang on the back filter will work well for their tank.

Take extra care during the molting process

When they molt, give an extra pair of eyes to them because at this time they are more prone to danger.

Choose a wider tank

Maximize the water surface using a rectangular tank with greater width.

When the shrimps breathe, they absorb oxygen from the water and exhale carbon dioxide. Water releases this carbon dioxide into the air. In a broader surface area water absorb more oxygen and release more carbon dioxide that is good for your shrimps.

Otherwise, your shrimps would die suffocating in excess CO2 build up in your tank that could not be released from the water. A wide water surface is equally important to provide enough oxygen for your shrimps to breathe and fuel the metabolic process.

Use the aeration solutions if needed

Another way to increase the growth rate of your Amano shrimps is by using an aeration solution for your shrimp tank. It appears that Amano shrimps like well-circulated water with a moderately moving current in it.

Aeration solution is important for breaking the surface tension and exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide in your tank water and atmosphere. With the rising of the temperature, the oxygen level gets low due to water evaporation.

When the temperature reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit, you may have to ensure the shrimps enough oxygen, therefore you may need to provide some aeration devices like powerheads, air stones, etc besides your filter to increase surface agitation and water circulation.

The filter moves the water at the bottom of your tank(the water that does not get in contact with air) to the surface area thus raising the oxygen concentration in it.

If you notice your shrimps gasping at the water surface or gathering near the filter output, you should take steps as soon as possible.

If Amano Shrimp piqued your interest, this article will take you even further. Amano Shrimp Breeding 101: Everything You Need To Know

3. Choose Compatible Tankmates 

Amano Shrimps are of very peaceful temperament and they cannot defend themselves before a threat.

So, while choosing tankmates, you will have to be very cautious about not keeping any larger predatory fish like Cichlids, Goldfish, Oscars, and Arowanas and larger invertebrates like the Cobalt Blue Lobster, Crayfish or Tangerine Lobster. Otherwise, you will lose them way before reaching the maximum size.

If you buy larger Amano shrimps, you can add Bamboo shrimp, Red Cherry shrimp, Vampire shrimp, Ghost shrimp, and some ornamental fishes such as Discus and Barbs in their tank.

Some other algae eaters like Trumpet and Nerite snails are also very compatible tankmates for them.

And if you want to stick to a single-species tank, keep at least 5-6 Amano shrimps in a tank because they love to be in small or big groups.

4. Acclimate Before Putting In The Tank

Most of the Amano shrimps are wild-caught so to allow them to grow fast you must drip acclimatize them before introducing into your tank. And while purchasing your Amano shrimps do not forget to ask the parameters of the store aquarium.

Before introducing the shrimps get your tank chemically tested to ensure the favorable parameters.

Conclusion

Therefore, to allow your Amano shrimps to grow up to its maximum size take care of the above-mentioned facts. In your established planted tank, they are supposed to grow to the expected size if anything doesn’t go largely wrong.