Algae Eating Shrimp
Freshwater algae can be a big problem, especially in a planted aquarium. In no time, algae can take over leaving an unsightly and potentially troublesome environment.
Freshwater algae eating shrimp are one of the best ways of controlling algae, including haired algae like black beard.
In Australia, Amano Shrimp (a well known algae eater) cannot be legally imported. However, the native freshwater Darwin Algae Eating Shrimp that we sell is very similar to the Amano Shrimp, with a matched appetite for algae!
Pictured: full-grown female Darwin Algae Eating Shrimp next to a smaller male.
Darwin Algae Eating Shrimp
Caridina sp NTnilotica, aka Darwin Algae Shrimp – are a freshwater shrimp available to buy now from our website right now.
This Australian freshwater shrimp loves to eat algae, including hair type algae which are typically some of the hardest to get rid of. After eating all the algae, they will consume regular left over fish foods.
Darwin Algae Shrimp grow to a maximum 5cm in length.
Not Just Your Average Shrimp
There are some other “algae shrimp” on the market native to Australia – typically the Glass Shrimp native to the eastern states.
However, the Glass Shrimp and other kinds of shrimp commonly sold, are no match for the Darwin Algae Eating Shrimp’s appetite for algae.
Pictured: a driftwood attached plant that was covered on algae. After just four hours, our shrimp in one of the holding tanks had nearly cleared it of algae. The next day the plant and driftwood was completely devoid of any trace of algae visible to the human eye.
Black Beard Algae? YUM!
Black Beard Algae is a stubborn hair algae that clings to surfaces of the aquarium and plants, making it difficult to remove – even by hand!
Usually you’d need to kill these algae using potentially harmful chemicals, like hydrogen peroxide. But our Algae Eating Shrimp eat this kind of algae for breakfast, and they’ll even eat it while its living with no need for chemicals.
Pictured: black beard algae on a living plant, added to a holding tank. Then a progress shot taken about a day and a half later. This plant will be completely free of algae in no time.
Minimal Biological Load
Other non-chemical solutions for freshwater algae (such as the Siamese Algae Eater) will add load to your natural biological filters. Our little shrimp have a huge appetite for algae and other detritus, but with the tiniest of waste footprints.
Larger numbers of our shrimp are safe to add to your freshwater aquarium without great concern to your existing biological load.
Community Aquariums
Our shrimp thrive in a freshwater planted aquarium and can exist safely in a community tank of small non-aggressive fish.
We recommend having dense coverage of freshwater plants to provide ample hiding spots for shrimp.
Caution: with larger and more aggressive fish, shrimp may end up as live food.
