Caridina typus

The Australian Amano Shrimp, also known as the Typus Shrimp or Freshwater Tiger Prawn, is a fantastic cleaner for the home aquarium. Despite its common name, it is a different species from the true Amano Shrimp, but it performs a similar role. These active little crustaceans are constantly scouring the tank for food, making them an excellent clean-up crew. They are tireless eaters of algae, leftover fish food, and the natural microscopic film that grows on surfaces.

These are social creatures that feel safest and are more active in groups, so you should plan to keep a small team of at least five. They are generally peaceful and will spend their time zipping around the bottom and middle levels of the tank, a behavior that adds a lot of life to an aquarium. While they are quite hardy and can adapt to a range of water conditions, they are best suited for an aquarist with a little bit of experience. This is mainly because they can be sensitive to sudden changes in their environment, and breeding them at home is nearly impossible. Their young require special saltwater conditions to survive, a setup that is far too complex for the average beginner. So, if you're looking for a self-sustaining shrimp colony, this isn't the one, but if you want an energetic and effective cleaning crew, they are an excellent choice.

Caridina typus, often sold as the Australian Amano Shrimp, is an adaptable and engaging atyid shrimp originating from the vast Indo-Pacific region. This wide geographical range hints at its impressive tolerance for varied water parameters, thriving in both slightly acidic and alkaline conditions, and a broad spectrum of water hardness. However, this adaptability does not mean they appreciate instability. The key to their long-term health is maintaining a stable environment, as fluctuations in pH, hardness, or temperature can induce stress, particularly during the vulnerable molting process. A target TDS around the 200 mark is a good guideline for ensuring proper osmotic function.

In terms of habitat, a tank of at least 20 litres is recommended to house a small group. A medium water flow is beneficial, as it replicates the gentle currents of the streams and coastal rivers they inhabit naturally. This flow aids in oxygen exchange and distributes fine food particles throughout the water column, encouraging natural foraging behavior. They are not demanding in terms of aquascape but will greatly benefit from a mature setup rich in biofilm. Driftwood, leaf litter (like catappa or alder), and porous rocks provide excellent surfaces for biofilm and algae to grow, offering a constant food source. These structures also provide crucial hiding spots, which make the shrimp feel more secure and, paradoxically, more willing to venture out into the open.

As omnivorous scavengers, their diet is straightforward. While they will avidly consume naturally occurring algae and detritus, their diet should be supplemented to ensure complete nutrition. High-quality sinking pellets or wafers formulated for shrimp, along with blanched vegetables like zucchini, spinach, or kale, should be offered periodically. Despite their constant foraging, their metabolic rate and waste production are low, making them a species with a minimal impact on the aquarium's bioload.

The most significant challenge for hobbyists is reproduction. Caridina typus exhibits an amphidromous breeding strategy. The female carries the eggs until they hatch in freshwater, but the released larvae are primitive and require a period of development in brackish or full marine water. After undergoing several larval stages (zoea), they metamorphose into post-larvae (megalopae) and must migrate back to a freshwater environment to mature. Replicating this complex cycle in captivity is a significant undertaking reserved for the most dedicated and experienced breeders, making it unfeasible for the vast majority of hobbyists.

Caridina typus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) is a decapod crustacean belonging to the family Atyidae, a species noted for its extensive geographical distribution across the Indo-Pacific. Its taxonomic classification places it within the highly speciose and systematically complex genus Caridina. The broad environmental tolerance of C. typus, evidenced by its viability in temperatures from 20-28°C and a pH range of 6.5-8.0, classifies it as a eurythermal and euryhaline organism within freshwater contexts. This physiological plasticity is a key factor in its successful colonization of diverse habitats, from coastal streams to inland rivers. Its low metabolic rate and oxygen consumption are adaptive traits that contribute to its resilience in varied aquatic environments.

From an ecological perspective, C. typus functions as a detritivore and primary consumer, playing a crucial role in nutrient cycling. Its diet consists largely of biofilm, algae, and detritus, positioning it as a benthic and pelagic grazer that actively cleans the ecosystem. This scavenging behavior, combined with its low waste production and bioload factor (0.4), makes it an efficient component of a balanced aquatic mesocosm, converting organic waste into biomass with minimal negative impact on water quality.

The most notable biological characteristic of Caridina typus is its amphidromous life cycle, a reproductive strategy shared with other atyids like Caridina japonica. This involves a diadromous migration pattern essential for larval development. Gravid females incubate eggs in freshwater, releasing planktonic zoea larvae upon hatching. These larvae are swept into estuarine or marine environments where they undergo metamorphosis through multiple developmental stages. The post-larval stage, or megalopa, exhibits positive rheotaxis, migrating back upstream into freshwater systems to mature. This complex reproductive strategy ensures wide gene flow and dispersal but presents a significant barrier to captive breeding without specialized larviculture systems that replicate the required salinity gradient. Despite this reproductive complexity, its wide distribution and adaptability have resulted in a conservation status of Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List. Socially, it exhibits shoaling behavior, an aggregation strategy that likely enhances foraging success and provides a degree of predator defense.