Short Nose Shrimp

Quick facts

Identity

Also known as

Speckled Dwarf Shrimp; Short-Nose Algae Shrimp

Synonyms

Caridina denticulata denticulata

Environment

Freshwater

Native to

Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea

Habitat

Lowland streams, rivers, and ponds with rocky or vegetated substrate; tolerant of a range of conditions from soft to moderately hard water

Sourcing

Wild-caught

Conservation

Not Evaluated

Care

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

0.6 – 1.3 in (1.5 – 3.2 cm)

Lifespan

1 – 2 yrs

Min tank

5 gal (19 L)

Growth rate

Moderate

Placement

Bottom

Water

Temperature

68 – 78 °F (20 – 26 °C)

pH

6.6 – 7.8

GH

4 – 8 dGH

TDS

100 – 300 ppm

dKH

0 – 4 dKH

Flow

Low-Moderate

Behavior & compatibility

Social

Group · groups of 6+

Aggression to own kind

Low

Active

Daytime

Invert safe

Yes

Plant safe

Yes

Shrimp safe

Yes

Clean-up role

Algae, Biofilm, Detritus, Leftover food

Population boom risk

Low

Feeding & breeding

Diet

Omnivore

Foods

Pellets, Frozen, Vegetables, Algae, Biofilm, Freeze-dried

Breeding type

Larval (brackish)

Breeding difficulty

Not bred in captivity

Sexing

Females are larger and broader-bodied with a more rounded underside to carry eggs; males are smaller and more slender

Target feeding

Beneficial

Something wrong or missing? Submit a correction

Care guide

Overview

Wild populations range across the streams and rivers of Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea, where this shrimp grazes rocky and vegetated substrate in mixed hardness water. Sold as a translucent, speckled brown-and-cream form, it is a hardier alternative to bee shrimp and tolerates broader swings in pH and hardness. Best kept in mature, algae-rich tanks in groups of six or more.

Care

This shrimp is one of the tougher Caridina species available in the trade, tolerating a wider swing in pH and hardness than delicate bee shrimp varieties. It does best in a mature, well-established tank with algae-covered wood and rock to graze on and stable, well-oxygenated water. Copper-based medications and sudden parameter shifts should be avoided, as with most atyid shrimp, since they are far more sensitive to these than to gradual changes in general hardness.

Feeding

Most of its diet comes from grazing biofilm, algae, and organic debris off leaves, wood, and glass throughout the day. Supplement with sinking shrimp pellets, blanched vegetables such as zucchini or spinach, and occasional protein sources like frozen bloodworm to round out nutrition. Feed sparingly since overfeeding fouls water quality faster than the shrimp can consume the surplus.

Tank mates

Best paired with small, peaceful fish that will not view them as food, along with other non-aggressive nano species. Avoid larger or predatory fish, and be cautious with boisterous tank mates that may out-compete them for food. They do well alongside other shrimp species and snails in a community clean-up crew setup.

Breeding

Wild populations are believed to be amphidromous, meaning hatched larvae require brackish water to develop before returning to fresh water as juveniles, which makes closing the life cycle in a standard freshwater tank very difficult. Because of this, most specimens sold in the hobby are wild-caught or farmed rather than tank-bred to maturity in home aquariums. Hobbyists should not expect a self-sustaining colony under typical freshwater-only setups.

Health

Like other atyid shrimp, it is vulnerable to copper and other heavy metals, which can be lethal even in small doses. Stable water chemistry and adequate minerals support smooth, successful molting; a shrimp that appears stuck mid-molt or is repeatedly molting in short succession may indicate a mineral deficiency or unstable GH/KH. Sudden drops in TDS or pH swings are more likely to cause stress and mortality than steady, moderately hard water.

Sources

1. Short Nose Shrimp (Caridina denticulata) - Live Freshwater Shrimp
2. Short-nose algae shrimp care: tank size and tank mates · TankBud
3. How to Care for Caridina Shrimp: Complete Care Guide

More Dwarf shrimp

Amano ShrimpBlack King Kong ShrimpBlack Pinto ShrimpBlack Rili ShrimpBloody Mary ShrimpBlue Bolt Extreme Shrimp