Hey aquarium lovers! Ever stared at those annoying green strands taking over your tank and wondered if shrimp could be your algae-fighting heroes? Well, I’ve got some interesting news for you about these little cleaners and their relationship with hair algae Let’s dive right in!
The Quick Answer
Yes, shrimp do eat hair algae, but their effectiveness varies by species. Here’s the deal
- Amano shrimp are the champion hair algae eaters
- Cherry shrimp will nibble on it but aren’t as efficient
- Ghost shrimp might pick at it, but they’re not your best choice
The Top Shrimp Species for Tackling Hair Algae
1. Amano Shrimp (The MVP)
These guys are the real MVPs when it comes to hair algae control. Here’s why we love them:
- Eat almost any type of algae
- Super effective against hair algae
- Can tackle larger algae infestations
- Need about 5 shrimp for tanks under 20 gallons
- Require 10+ shrimp for larger setups
2. Cherry Shrimp (The Hard Workers)
While not as efficient as Amanos cherry shrimp have their perks
- Will eat various types of algae including hair algae
- Breed quickly, creating more cleanup crew members
- Work constantly throughout the day
- Need at least 10 shrimp to start seeing results
- Great for maintaining already clean tanks
Important Things to Remember
Shrimp Aren’t Magic Solutions
Look, I gotta be honest with ya – while shrimp are awesome helpers, they’re not gonna solve your algae problems overnight. Here’s what you need to know:
- Root Cause Fixes
- Check your lighting schedule
- Monitor nutrient levels
- Maintain proper water parameters
- Consider adding fast-growing plants
- Dietary Needs
Your shrimp can’t live on algae alone! You’ll need to:
- Provide supplementary foods
- Feed them 2-3 times per week
- Offer variety (shrimp pellets, fish flakes, blanched veggies)
Setting Up for Success
Tank Requirements
To get the most out of your algae-eating shrimp:
Temperature: 65-80°FpH: 6.5-7.5GH: 4-8KH: 3-7TDS: 150-250Pro Tips for Maximum Algae Eating
- Create plenty of hiding spots
- Maintain stable water parameters
- Start with a larger group
- Be patient – results take time
- Don’t rely solely on shrimp for cleanup
Common Questions We Get
Q: Will shrimp completely eliminate hair algae?
A: Nah, they’ll help control it but won’t eliminate it entirely. You’ll still need good tank maintenance.
Q: How many shrimp do I need?
A: For a typical 20-gallon tank:
- Amano shrimp: 5-7
- Cherry shrimp: 10-15
- Mixed species: 8-12
Q: Can I mix different shrimp species?
A: Totally! They’ll usually get along fine and may even be more effective together.
Our Experience
We’ve been keeping shrimp for years, and I gotta tell ya, they’re amazing little cleaners when given the right conditions. Just last month, we added 6 Amanos to a customer’s tank that was struggling with hair algae, and within weeks there was a noticeable difference!
The Bottom Line
Shrimp definitely eat hair algae, but they work best as part of a larger maintenance strategy. Amano shrimp are your best bet if hair algae is your main concern, while cherry shrimp make great general cleaners that reproduce easily.
Remember, maintaining good water parameters and proper tank conditions is still key – think of shrimp as your maintenance helpers rather than a complete solution.
Now, if you’re dealing with hair algae in your tank, why not give these little guys a try? They’re not just useful – they’re fascinating to watch too! And hey, if you’ve had experience with shrimp taking on hair algae in your tank, we’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
Got more questions about shrimp and algae control? Drop them in the comments, and we’ll help you out!
Cherry shrimp/Sakura shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
Probably the absolute most popular aquarium shrimp in the hobby, cherry shrimp are appreciated for their red coloration, fast breeding and efficiency when it comes to eating algae. Like Amano shrimp, they will eat various types of algae – and they do it quickly. Cherries spend their entire day foraging, eating algae and biofilm wherever they can find them.
Just introduce a colony of at least ten cherry shrimp into your aquarium and sit back! They will multiply quickly, creating a larger and larger algae eating army. Overcrowding wont be an issue, as these shrimp have a low bioload. Most aquariums can sustain dozens or even hundreds of them, as long as youre offering additional foods regularly. If you do feel like your colony is expanding a bit too fast, just sell or give away a few shrimp to a fellow hobbyist.
You can buy cherry shrimp at The Shrimp Farm! Order your cherries here.
Amano shrimp (Caridina multidentata)
The Amano shrimp is such an effective algae eater that one of its common names is actually “algae eating shrimp”! With its transparent body, this species is not the most exciting to look at. Dont let that fool you, though. Its extremely popular due to being the go-to algae exterminator throughout the aquarium and aquascape hobbies.
Amano shrimp arent picky when it comes to algae and will eat almost any type, with black beard algae and cyanobacteria being the only common exceptions. A group of five or so should be enough to keep algae under control in tanks smaller than 20 gallons. Ten or more should work well for larger setups. Do keep in mind that a colony of Amano shrimp usually cant survive off algae alone, so youll have to provide them with additional food at least a few times a week. Pretty much anything works for this: high-end shrimp pellets, simple fish flakes or even some simple blanched peas. Amano shrimp will happily eat it all.
You can buy Amano shrimp at The Shrimp Farm! Order your aquarium cleaning crew here.