Family Reference
Shrimp & Snails
Neocaridina, Caridina, Amano, and the aquarium snails — freshwater invertebrates that breed at the parameters fish only tolerate.
The Complete Shrimp & Snails Guide: Freshwater Invertebrates
Field reference to freshwater aquarium shrimp and snails: taxonomy, identification, water chemistry, moulting, copper sensitivity, bioload.
Read the guide →Species & Profiles
All articles in this section
How to Prevent Shrimp Moult Failure
Shrimp moult failure is preventable: hold GH within species-correct targets, keep TDS swings below 10 ppm at every water change, and eliminate copper from the tank system entirely.
Why Are My Snails Climbing Out of the Tank?
Snails climb out for three distinct reasons: normal mystery-snail egg-laying, physiological surfacing for oxygen, and escape from poor water conditions. Learn which is which.
Why Is My Shrimp Dying After Molting?
Shrimp dying after moulting signals a water-chemistry failure: low GH, a TDS shift from a water change, or copper exposure. The white ring of death is always fatal once visible.
Why Aren't My Cherry Shrimp Breeding?
Cherry shrimp breeding fails in three distinct ways: no berried females, berried females with no surviving shrimplets, or a colony that stays static. Each signals different root causes.
Why Are My Shrimp Turning White?
Shrimp turning white can mean a routine post-moult recovery or a fatal muscular necrosis. This guide distinguishes the two, covers microsporidian infection, ectoparasites, exuviae confusion, and what to do.
Amano Shrimp vs Nerite Snail for Algae
Amano shrimp and nerite snails target different algae entirely. This guide maps which animal clears which problem, where their roles overlap, and why most planted tanks benefit from both.
Yellow Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi var.): Care & Line Breeding
Field profile of yellow shrimp: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding, and common husbandry failures for freshwater invertebrate.
Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi): Care & Breeding
Field profile of cherry shrimp: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding, and common husbandry failures for freshwater invertebrate.
Cherry Shrimp vs Amano Shrimp: Which Belongs in Your Tank?
Cherry and Amano shrimp solve different problems. Cherry shrimp are colony-breeders for display tanks; Amanos are larger, sterile in freshwater.
Bladder Snail (Physella acuta): Hitchhiker Snail Care
Field profile of bladder snail: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding, and common husbandry failures for freshwater invertebrate.
Ghost Shrimp (Palaemonetes paludosus): Care & Identification
Field profile of ghost shrimp: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding, and common husbandry failures for freshwater invertebrate.
Blue Dream Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi var.): Care & Genetics
Field profile of blue dream shrimp: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding, and common husbandry failures for freshwater invertebrate.
Assassin Snail (Anentome helena): Predatory Snail Care
Field profile of assassin snail: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding, and common husbandry failures for freshwater invertebrate.
Taiwan Bee Shrimp (Caridina cantonensis): High-Grade Care
Field profile of Taiwan bee shrimp: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding, and common husbandry failures for freshwater invertebrate.
Ramshorn Snail (Planorbidae): Pest or Useful Grazer?
Field profile of ramshorn snail: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding, and common husbandry failures for freshwater invertebrate.
Black Crystal Shrimp (Caridina cantonensis var.): Care Guide
Field profile of black crystal shrimp: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding.
Malaysian Trumpet Snail (Melanoides tuberculata): Substrate Care
Field profile of Malaysian trumpet snail: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding.
Nerite Snail (Neritina spp.): Algae Control Without Overbreeding
Field profile of nerite snail: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding, and common husbandry failures for freshwater invertebrate.
Bamboo Shrimp (Atyopsis moluccensis): Current & Feeding Care
Field profile of bamboo shrimp: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding, and common husbandry failures for freshwater invertebrate.
Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata): Algae Grazing Care
Field profile of Amano shrimp: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding, and common husbandry failures for freshwater invertebrate.
Mystery Snail (Pomacea bridgesii): Care, Bioload & Breeding
Field profile of mystery snail: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding, and common husbandry failures for freshwater invertebrate.
Crystal Red Shrimp (Caridina cantonensis var.): RO Water Care
Field profile of crystal red shrimp: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding, and common husbandry failures for freshwater invertebrate.
Vampire Shrimp (Atya gabonensis): Filter-Feeder Care
Field profile of vampire shrimp: identification, aquarium parameters, tankmates, diet, breeding, and common husbandry failures for freshwater invertebrate.