Description
The bamboo shrimp, or Asian filter shrimp, does not feed like other shrimp. Instead of claws it has four fans of very fine hairs that it opens into the current to catch suspended particles before bringing them to its mouth. Watching one perched on a branch facing the filter outlet, opening and closing its fans, is one of the most curious sights an aquarium can offer.
That way of feeding is also its main demand: it needs flow and particle-laden water. In a very clean, still tank it is forced down to the bottom to sweep with its fans, a sign it is going hungry. It grows to about 8 cm and is entirely peaceful.
It is often sold singly, and does better in a small group. Like all shrimp, copper kills it.
Habitat
It lives in flowing rivers and streams of Southeast Asia, from the Malay Peninsula to the Moluccas, clinging to branches, roots and stones where water runs strongly. The larvae need brackish water, so it does not breed in the aquarium.
At home it needs a raised perch facing the current — a branch or stone near the filter outlet — and a mature tank with some suspended matter. Its diet can be supplemented with powdered filter-feeder food stirred into the water.
🌊 Water parameters
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 27–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5 and 23–27 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5 and 23–24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 26–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–6.8 and 23–24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–6.8 and 23–24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 27–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 27–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5 and 23–24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
Sources
- GBIFGBIF Secretariat (2026). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset. https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei. Consultado vía GBIF.org, 2026-08. Atyopsis moluccensis.
Taxonomy verified as ACCEPTED unless stated otherwise.
The care values (pH, temperature and hardness) have no citable source: none of the accepted sources publishes invertebrate profiles. Seriously Fish has none and PlanetCatfish does not respond. A source for invertebrates is still to be agreed.