Atya gabonensis

Atya gabonensis is a species of freshwater shrimp from West Africa and South America. It is an omnivorous filter feeder that uses feather-like claspers to filter particles from the water. It can grow to 15 centimetres (6 inches). It has many common names, including African fan shrimp, African filter shrimp, African giant shrimp, vampire shrimp, blue rhino shrimp, Gabon shrimp, and Cameroon fan shrimp.[2]

Atya gabonensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Subphylum:
Crustacea
Class:
Malacostraca
Order:
Decapoda
Infraorder:
Caridea
Family:
Atyidae
Genus:
Atya
Species:
A. gabonensis
Binomial name
Atya gabonensis
Giebel, 1875
Synonyms [1]
  • Atya sculptata Ortmann, 1890
  • Euatya sculptilis Koelbel, 1884

Distribution

Atya gabonensis is found in West Africa, from Senegal to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in South America from Venezuela to Brazil.[3]

In captivity

In aquaria

Despite their predatory-sounding name "Vampire", they are a non-aggressive species that does well in community tanks that have areas to hide during the molting process. Another requirement is a moderate to strong current where the shrimp can sit and catch food. A pH of 6.5–7.8 is acceptable as well as temperatures of 23–29 °C (74–84 °F). As with most invertebrates they are very susceptible to medications used to treat many fish diseases, with copper being deadly. Also ammonia and nitrite poisoning are possible.[4]

Colouring of this species can vary from a creamy white to an almost rusty brown, and also a deep blue. It is believed that the water conditions will affect colouring and harder water causes the blue morph. These shrimp have been known to change colouring several times in the same year.[4]

References
  1. Charles Fransen (2012). "Atya gabonensis Giebel, 1875". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved October 29, 2012.
  2. Nwosu, F. M. (2009). Aspects of the biology of the Gabon shrimp Atya gabonensis, Giebel 1875 in the Cross River, Nigeria. Archived 2016-08-09 at the Wayback Machine Journal of Fisheries International 4(4), 58-61.
  3. Horton H. Hobbs, Jr.; C. W. Hart, Jr. (1982). "The shrimp genus Atya (Decapoda: Atyidae)". Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology. 364: 143 pp. hdl:10088/5544.
  4. "Vampire Shrimp". Aquatic Community. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
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