Vampire Shrimp?

[joe17]

Hi, so about a month ago, a friend of mine got a vampire shrimp without doing any research. After realizing how shy her shrimp is, she decided that she no longer wanted it as part of her aquarium. After telling me that she was going to flush that boring thing down the toilet, I offered to take it off her hands. So it is now in my established 10 gallon with a couple guppies and platties. It has retreated into hiding and has not come out yet... Anyone have any info and/or experience with these guys?

I realize that my tank is not ideal, but it is better than the toilet!

 

[Ch4rlie]

I did not even know there was such a thing called vampire shrimps!
 
Also can be called African Fan Shrimp or Cameroun Fan Shrimp.
 
Just done some quick research, they are Atya gabonesis, from West Africa and South America.
 
Omnivorous feeder, uses feather like claspers to filter particles from the water.
 
Grows to 6 inches!
 
Water compatibility - ph 6.5 - 7.8, temp 23 - 29 C (74 - 84F)
 
Colouring can be from creams to rusty browns, can change colour several times a year. (harder water can make them blue!)
 
Breeding best in brackish water.
 
Non aggressive.
 
Needs a larger tank (15 US gal or 60 litres) with stronger current, feed plankton and other fine foods.

 

[fm1978]

Don't know anything about them but it looks damn cool. Awful pity it's so shy!

 

[joe17]

Yeah, I think they are really cool too! I will be getting a bigger tank eventually but for now my tank is better than no tank I guess. It is only about 2 1/2 inches and I will keep a close eye on it to see how it grows and develops.