The amano shrimp definitely deserves all the great care you can offer it! This includes excellent tank mates. If you’re looking to add variety to your aquarium, you’ll benefit from our list of the 15 Best Amano Shrimp Tank Mates!
The Best Amano Shrimp Tank Mates can be other shrimp or fish that can not only handle the same water parameters and environment as the Amano shrimp, but are unlikely to bother or act aggressively toward the shrimp, leaving it in peace. These include other shrimp like the bamboo shrimp, or small fish like cherry barbs and ember tetras.
In this article, we’ll show you what it takes for a fish to be a good tank mate for an Amano shrimp, as well as fill you in on our list of the very best possible neighbors for the Amano shrimp! Let’s get started.
Contents
Amano Shrimp Tank Mates – What You Need to Know
If you are going to find the best of the best in tank mates, there are some general categories of care that you’ll need to be aware of. These are temperament, size, and competition. We’ll explain further below!
Temperament
Temperament simply means that a fish or shrimp is more prone to one type of attitude around others than another. For example, some aquarium dwellers are shy and prefer to hide, while others are territorial and aggressive. An amano shrimp is not aggressive, mostly keeping to itself among the plants of an aquarium.
You’ll want fish that are not too likely to notice their shrimp neighbor and decide to choose violence!
Size
The size of an amano shrimp is the main reason for being careful to pick out compatible tank mates. An amano shrimp is technically a dwarf shrimp, which is an accurate name because this species is very small. In fact, it is so tiny that many larger fish will immediately want to make a snack out of it!
Look for fish that are between 1 and 6 inches, to stay on the safe side.
Competition
Competition between shrimp and fish usually refers to the way each species might fight to get the others’ food. With amano shrimp, you do not usually need to worry that the shrimp will try and steal meals from fish, as it mainly prefers to eat algae! Simply stay away from other algae-eating fish, or make sure there is plenty of room in the tank, and all will be well.
Parameters ; Tank Setup
Amano shrimp are some of the most hardy creatures you can put in an aquarium, without needing constant maintenance or too many specific features. However, they do best in a temperature of 72 to 75 F, and they need about 3 gallons per shrimp in the space.
15 Best Amano Shrimp Tank Mates
- Bristlenose Pleco
- Mystery Snail
- Neocaridina Shrimp
- Blue Ram
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail
- Corydoras Catfish
- Bolivian Ram
- Bamboo Shrimp
- Pearl Gourami
- Vampire Shrimp
- Otocinclus Catfish
- Guppy
- Ember Tetra
- Harlequin Rasbora
- Cherry Barb
Let’s look more closely at every species on this list so you can see which is best for your shrimp and your tank setup, and what makes each so great!
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1. Bristlenose Pleco
- Scientific Name: Ancistrus cirrhosus
- Adult Size: 5 inches
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin:Amazon
The bristlenose pleco is also called the bushynose catfish thanks to the bristling whisker appendages on it’s face! This fish is a bottom feeder, but it is unlikely to eat too much of your amano shrimp’s diet as long as there is enough room at the bottom of the tank.
The bristlenose pleco has more to offer, visually, than just it’s whiskers: it also has filmy blue eyes and beautiful yellow spots speckling it’s dark body!
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- No aggression
- Will not eat Amano Shrimp
- Cleans up tank
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- Could have food competition if space is too small
2. Mystery Snail
- Scientific Name: Pomacea bridgesii
- Adult Size: 3 inches
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Asia
The Mystery Snail is a great plant-dwelling friend for your amano shrimp to have. Obviously the Mystery Snail will never try to eat your amano shrimp, and vice versa! Both will be perfectly happy prowling the plants in the tank.
The Mystery Snail is also called the Golden snail thanks to it’s shell color. This will add a drop of golden color to your aquarium!
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- No aggression
- Will not eat Amano Shrimp
- Very Little food competition
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- None!
3. Neocaridina Shrimp
- Scientific Name: Neocaridina davidi
- Adult Size: 1 inch
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Taiwan
The neocaridina shrimp, also known more commonly by names based on it’s color, such as “cherry shrimp” for the red variety, is a great friend to the amano shrimp. Though they do sometimes eat similar diets to the amano shrimp, again, all you need is enough space at the bottom of the tank for there to be minimal problems.
The Neocaridina shrimp comes in a whole host of colors, so as long as you have the space, try getting plenty and you’ll have a whole rainbow of living colors in your aquarium!
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- Will not eat amano shrimp
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- Some food competition if there isn’t enough room
4. Blue Ram
- Scientific Name: Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
- Adult Size: 2 to 3 inches
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: South America
A blue ram is a bottom-dwelling fish. It mainly eats both veggies and meat, but don’t worry, it’s size means that the blue ram is unlikely to try hunting your amano shrimp.
The blue ram is peaceful by nature and beautiful in color, too. With bright orange eyes staring out of a golden color, speckled with electric blue and striped with a more sedate black, you’ll have a lovely addition to your aquarium with this fish!
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- No aggression
- Will not eat amano shrimp
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- None!
5. Malaysian Trumpet Snail
- Scientific Name: Melanoides tuberculata
- Adult Size: 0.8 to 1.5 inches
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Malaysia
The malaysian trumpet snail is named for it’s long, spiraling shells. They are very small, but thanks to their protective shell and the diet of the amano shrimp, you won’t have to worry about these snails becoming a snack!
The malaysian trumpet snail is another bottom feeder, so we recommend making sure there are plenty of rocks, plants, and room in general for the amano shrimp and malaysian trumpet snail to avoid crowding one another in the aquarium.
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- No aggression
- Will not eat Amano Shrimp
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- Some food competition without enough room
6. Corydoras Catfish
- Scientific Name: Corydoras aeneus
- Adult Size: 2 inches
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela
Add a twinkle of peaceful bronze coloring to the bottom of your tank with the corydoras catfish! This bottom-feeding fish does not get much larger than the amano shrimp itself, and is unlikely to try hunting the shrimp.
Instead, it is content to eat the detritus and leftovers at the bottom of the tank. This makes it the perfect tank mate for the amano shrimp!
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- No aggression
- Will not eat amano shrimp
- Little food competition
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- None!
7. Bolivian Ram
- Scientific Name: Mikrogeophagus altispinosus
- Adult Size: 3.5 inches
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Bolivia
The bolivian ram is one of the cichlid species, which are largely made up of territorial bullies. However, the bolivian ram is one fish that is actually quite peaceful and won’t bother your amano shrimp.
Though it may be small, the bolivian ram is pretty, often a pale color with blue and orange markings, as well as an interesting black stripe that can reach up into it’s transparent dorsal fin!
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- No aggression
- Will not eat amano shrimp
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- None!
8. Bamboo Shrimp
- Scientific Name: Atyopsis moluccensis
- Adult Size: 2 to 3 inches
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Southeast Asia
This omnivorous shrimp is larger than the amano shrimp. They have long paws that will allow them to catch whatever snack they’re interested in eating. This diet does not include amano shrimp, as this bamboo shrimp is shy in temperament and unlikely to bother others!
The bamboo shrimp is named for its long brown body, which is patterned very similarly to wood grain.
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- No aggression
- No food competition
- Will not eat amano shrimp
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- None!
9. Pearl Gourami
- Scientific Name: Trichopodus leerii
- Adult Size: 4.5 inches
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Borneo, Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra
The pearl gourami is a type of fish that won’t bother the amano shrimp because it likes to stay in the top and middle of the tank’s water column. It is typically peaceful by nature, too, though it can become territorial in the breeding season among males.
The pearl gourami is a beautiful spotty fish to watch. It eats both plant and meat matter, but as previously mentioned, won’t care to try swallowing the similarly-sized amano shrimp!
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- Not aggressive
- No food competition
- Will not eat amano shrimp
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- None!
10. Vampire Shrimp
- Scientific Name: Atya gabonensis
- Adult Size: 2 to 3 inches
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Southern Africa
The vampire shrimp is another larger shrimp, much like the bamboo variety, and it even comes in more variable colors! Despite it’s muscular build, it is not a fighter and does well in peaceful tanks.
The vampire shrimp is named for it’s habit of being active mostly at night, and the fang-like structures on their feet.
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- No aggression
- Will not eat amano shrimp
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- None!
11. Otocinclus Catfish
- Scientific Name: Otocinclus
- Adult Size: 1 to 2 inches
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: South America
The Otocinclus catfish is a very small breed of catfish, making it totally adorable to watch swim around the bottom of the aquarium! It comes in several colors, but the common trait is a brown stripe around the body.
The Otocinclus catfish is peaceful and will not bug your amano shrimp. It is fun to watch scurry to hiding places thanks to its timid nature, and sometimes go to the surface of the tank as well as the bottom.
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- No aggression
- Will not eat amano shrimp
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- Some food competition without enough space
12. Guppy
- Scientific Name: Poecilia reticulata
- Adult Size: 2 inches
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: South America
Guppies are a fantastic addition to just about any tank community. They are very easy to care for, completely peaceful with others, and just gorgeous to look at.
Not only are they small enough to be disinterested in amano shrimp, but they come in dappling rainbows of color, speckled with bright fins.
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- No aggression
- Will not eat amano shrimp
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- None!
13. Ember Tetra
- Scientific Name: Hyphessobrycon amandae
- Adult Size: 1 inch
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: South America
Ember tetras are another beloved fish for those just starting out on their aquarium-building adventure. They are easy to care for, eating both meat and veggies, and too small to worry about bothering amano shrimp.
Ember tetras are named for their fiery color. They usually come in orange or bronze, and actually enjoy living with other fish as long as everyone is as peaceful as they are!
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- No aggression
- Will not eat amano shrimp
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- None!
14. Harlequin Rasbora
- Scientific Name: Trigonostigma heteromorpha
- Adult Size: 1 inch
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Malaysia, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Sumatra, Singapore
Harlequin rasbora make great tank mates for any fish, not just amano shrimp, because they are peaceful and used to swimming around others. They are usually found in the top of the tank or sometimes swimming around the middle of the water column.
Harlequin rasbora are beautiful, too, ranging in warm colors, but always with a sporty black marking along their sides and bellies!
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- No aggression
- Will not eat amano shrimp
- No food competition
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- None!
15. Cherry Barb
- Scientific Name: Puntius titteya
- Adult Size: 2 inches
- Compatible With: Amano Shrimp
- Care Level: Easy
- Origin: Sri Lanka
Last but not least, the cherry barb is a cheerful little spot of color to make a neighbor of your amano shrimp! A cherry barb is small, peaceful, and bright in markings!
Cherry barbs are named for their strawberry to peach coloration with darker markings. They’re too small to try and eat your amano shrimp, and occupy a different level of the tank, too.
Pros of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- No food competition
- No aggression
- Will not eat amano shrimp
Cons of keeping with Amano Shrimp :
- None!
In Conclusion
To sum everything we’ve learned up, the amano shrimp is a capable and hardy little creature to have in your tank, and the 15 Best Amano Shrimp Tank Mates are fish that are small enough to avoid eating the shrimp.
Additionally, it is a great idea to get small fish that aren’t likely to eat more algae than the bottom-feeding amano shrimp, which would create too much food competition and likely starve one or the other out. For that reason, some of the best amano shrimp tank mates are cherry barbs, bristlenose plecos, or even ember tetras!
Ian Sterling, founder of Fishlab.com, began his aquarium journey over 30 years ago, driven by a deep fascination for fish and their diverse personalities. His website, Fishlab.com, is dedicated to making fishkeeping accessible and enjoyable, offering beginner-friendly guidance, expert insights, and a community for aquarists to connect and share experiences.