Clueless about shrimp my GF got me to get a"whisker shrimp" looking 4 info.

**FishGuy67** · 05-02-2013, 07:07 PM

I know crayfish but nada on shrimp they were selling them as whisker shrimp; really long antennae (2 inch body pretty big for a FW shrimp) I only got 1 to see if my tetras would nip his antenna off but he seems ok and happy. He has a red color to his insides but is mostly see through.

Anyone got an idea on what species I actually have. It's like a giant ghost shrimp with really long antennae and long arms with lil claws.

**talldutchie** · 05-02-2013, 07:33 PM

Long arms usually means some kind of macrobrachium, most likely Assamensis. If I'm right you better keep an eye on your cories and your snails, these guys can take snails and small fish.

**FishGuy67** · 05-02-2013, 08:23 PM

His claws are very very small he couldn't grab a fish with them unless it was like a baby guppy and even then I'm not so sure. Though he could of lost his original claws and be growing them back right? kind of like when I had crayfish they'd lose a main claw and grow it back slowly. Also how big can these guys get? he's the biggest FW shrimp I've ever seen.

I was trying to ID him all night and it's very hard.

**talldutchie** · 05-03-2013, 04:32 AM

Does the shape look like what I posted? Shrimp can indeed grow back extremities. This one might get as big as 3 inches but that's it

**FishGuy67** · 05-06-2013, 01:40 AM

Yeah it did look like that; it molted yesterday and got much larger claws and started to fight with my little corys so I gave it away. I wonder if they cut their claws off before they ship them to the LFS?

It's a shame I'll have to get some ghost shrimp.

**Strider199** · 05-06-2013, 10:20 PM

They have a vampire shrimp around here if your looking for something different. They are alot larger then Cherry shrimp and look unusual. Just thinking out loud.

**talldutchie** · 05-07-2013, 04:45 AM

That's a filter feeder. OP's tank may not be mature enough to support one.

Originally Posted by FishGuy67

Yeah it did look like that; it molted yesterday and got much larger claws and started to fight with my little corys so I gave it away. I wonder if they cut their claws off before they ship them to the LFS?

No, probably not. Shrimp would starve. Well... the mystery is solved then.

**Strider199** · 05-07-2013, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by talldutchie

That's a filter feeder. OP's tank may not be mature enough to support one.

No, probably not. Shrimp would starve. Well... the mystery is solved then.

I was just suggesting an alternative to that Assamensis talldutchie. Your 100% correct about the tanks maturity if deciding to keep such a filter feeder. Thanks.

**talldutchie** · 05-08-2013, 05:39 AM

Having said that... if you can feed it they are indeed lovely shrimp guaranteed not to harm any other fish or inverts.

**Fishkeeper** · Yesterday, 05:57 PM

Bamboo shrimp are smaller filter feeders that sometimes scavenge...

If you want a large-ish shrimp, try amanos. They can eat baby fish, but they're mostly harmless.