Vampire Shrimp

Vampire Shrimp, or the Giant African Fan Shrimp, Atya gabonensis is a large, unusual shrimp for the planted/community aquaria. They are daunting in size, but they are a very peaceful plankton/filter feeder. Vampire shrimp are fairly hardy, as long as their water is kept clean and well oxygenated. They have a very interesting way of feeding, by "fanning" the water with special appendages, they are able to collect tiny food particles, plankton and algae. These can be fed, along with crushing or pulverizing flake food into a fine powder, and then dispersed into the aquaria near the shrimp.