Macrobrachium nipponense Oriental River Prawn

Macrobrachium nipponense, the Oriental River Prawn, is native to freshwater rivers, lakes, and estuaries of East Asia including China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. A medium-sized prawn with mottled brownish-gray coloration, it is one of the most widely distributed and commercially important freshwater prawns in East Asia. In the aquarium, it is notable for its tolerance of a broad temperature range — including cooler temperatures down to 15°C — making it ideal for temperate and subtropical species tanks. Semi-aggressive toward smaller invertebrates, it is best housed with robust fish of comparable size or in a species display. An interesting biotope species for East Asian freshwater setups.

Water: pH 6.5–8.0, TDS 100–350 ppm, temperature 15–28°C; broad temperature tolerance including cooler conditions. Tank: 80+ litres; robust filtration; territorial cover essential; no small invertebrate tankmates. Feeding: Omnivore; shrimp pellets, frozen bloodworm, fish pellets, blanched vegetables. Breeding: Larvae require brackish conditions; captive breeding rarely achieved. Compatibility: Semi-aggressive; suitable with medium-large robust fish; avoid small shrimp and fish.