The Bamboo Shrimp, also known as the Wood Shrimp or Asian Filter Shrimp, is a large, impressive freshwater shrimp native to fast-flowing streams and rivers of Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and surrounding regions. Unlike the majority of aquarium shrimp that scavenge surfaces for food, the Bamboo Shrimp is a dedicated filter feeder, using modified fan-like forelimbs (called maxillipeds) to strain suspended organic particles, algae cells, and fine detritus from the water column.
In the aquarium, this unique feeding strategy requires specific consideration. Bamboo Shrimp must be positioned near areas of water flow — filter outlets, powerhead outputs, or directed current — where they can spread their fans into the passing current. A Bamboo Shrimp attempting to graze on surfaces rather than filter-feeding is a sign that it is not receiving sufficient suspended food, which can lead to gradual starvation.
Bamboo Shrimp are large, reaching up to 8 cm, with a mottled reddish-brown to tan body decorated with a pale lateral stripe. They are completely peaceful and pose no threat to fish, other invertebrates, or plants. They make extraordinary display animals due to their size, their fan-feeding behaviour, and their tendency to sit in prominent positions in the current. They require a spacious, well-filtered aquarium with good flow and should be kept individually or in small groups in appropriately sized tanks.
