Freshwater aquarium invertebrates are thus becoming an increasingly popular choice among aquarium enthusiasts. Over the course of the earth’s evolution, invertebrates have evolved to an amazing level of diversity. Their fascination stems from their bizarre forms, fantastic colours or markings and their interesting behavior. Often small size makes them ideal for nano aquariums. Most aquarium invertebrates such as freshwater shrimps and snail species are tolerant of salinity and pH ranges but are very sensitive to ammonia/ammonium and heavy metal concentrations.

Popular Invertebrates for Aquascape Aquarium

There are many aquarium invertebrates like shrimps and snails species available to the aquascape aquarium. Some are purely ornamental, while others (namely neocardina and cardinia species for shrimps and Neritina species for snails) are kept primarily as algae eaters.

Freshwater Snails
Freshwater snails make their appearance in every aquarium sooner or later, sometimes becoming a real nuisance. Recently, these former “undesirables” have found their own place in some aquarium enthusiasts.  Some varieties such as Ramshorn Snails are highly interesting and also useful helpers in aquascape aquarium.

Dwarf Crayfish

Crayfish are also fascinating aquarium inhabitants. Most varieties grow to a considerable size, however, and require an appropriately large habitat. Dwarf crayfish of the Cambarellus genus are ideal for nano aquarium. With a size of 3-5 cm, they are suitable maintained in nano tanks of 25 liter or larger.

As dwarf crayfish are not interested in destroying plants, any aquarium greenery of your choice is appropriate. However, Crayfish are the great “escape artists”. They are able to survive in air for some time and are excellent climbers. An aquarium containing crabs or crayfish thus needs to be “escape-proof”.

Aquarium Shrimps

These lively little invertebrates are highly robust animals which flourish when kept in the right conditions. Most aquarium shrimp varieties have a relatively large tolerance range with regard to water values. A good supply of oxygen is particularly important. If the oxygen level drops too low, this will have an adverse effect on their health.

Shrimp are generally omnivorous, with a preference for plants. In addition to algae, their menu also contains natural animal plankton, detritus (dead plant material, decaying leaves, etc.). And even carrion.

Keeping Freshwater Aquarium Invertebrates

Of the many invertebrates species found to be useful to the aquaria hobby, like the Japanese Marsh Shrimp which better known as the Yamato or Amano Shrimp is by far the most popular algae eater in the hobby. And Ramshorn snails on the other hand, are not far behind, they will rid algae from your rocks, driftwood and make your aquarium equipment as if they were brand new. Even Black Beard Algae (BBA) doesn't stand a chance.

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Fluval EBI Nano Shrimp Habitat

Keeping Freshwater Shrimp with Fluval EBI Nano Aquarium
If you want to learn keeping freshwater invertebrates at home, I recommend  starting with the Fluval EBI Nano Shrimp Habitat by Hagen. The nano shrimp aquarium has been designed with freshwater shrimp specifically in mind. The Fluval Ebi comes fully equipped to provide the ideal habitat for freshwater shrimp and crayfish.

With their vibrant colours and entertaining disposition, freshwater shrimp (called ebi in Japanese) are a truly fascinating species to collect and keep. The Fluval EBI Nano Shrimp Habitat kit includes everything you need to enjoy this wonderful and increasingly-popular hobby. Equipped with an internal filter designed for maximum water clarity and biological capacity, the Fluval Ebi is a great habitat to get you started and experience the fascinating lives of shrimp. read more.

For the majority of shrimps a neutral and medium hardness water is generally suitable. Some species of shrimp do have preferences for slightly acidic or moderately alkaline waters though a range of 5.6 to 7.5 pH and hardness levels around 5-10 gH. Temperature, likewise has to be kept below 30C.

While changing water, ensure that chlorine, chloramine and heavy metals are removed with dechlorinators prior to adding to the tank. It is highly recommended not to use any hot tap water when performing water changes. It should be noted that if keeping these aquarium shrimps, snails and other freshwater aquarium invertebrates, copper based water additives or medicines should never be used.

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Takashi Amano is a photographer, designer and aquarist from Japan. He was very influential in the world of aquascaping community. His work that uses rocks and woody has a very high artistry. Takashi Amano also popularized the aquarium plants such as Glossostigma elatinodes and Riccia fluitans to decorate the aquarium.

In addition to the types of aquarium plants, Takashi Amano also popularize Caridina japonica, which is a very effective type of shrimp to eat and controlling the algae which growing on the aquarium plants. The types of algae shrimp is then called as the "Amano Shrimp".

When he proves that this shrimp was effective to eradicate and controlling algae growth in large quantities, then Takashi Amano bought thousands of Caridina japonica shrimp from aquarium supplies in Japan. After that, Caridina japonica or "Amano Shrimp" was as a necessity to all of his freshwater aquarium.

Another advantage of the "Amano shrimp" species is, although put this shrimp into aquarium in large number, they will not look too much or looks meet the aquarium so it does not interfere with views of the water plants decoration.

Due to its large appetite for all kinds of freshwater algae, Japonica Amano Shrimp or Amano Shrimp has gained popularity among world aquarist, so now many are found in almost the entire aquascape aquarium as the natural algae removal. They will consume leftover fish food and detritus on the aquarium floor, making the Amano Shrimp an efficient cleaner that is also very interesting to watch. The Amano Shrimp is mostly opaque brown in color with a tan stripe that runs the length of the back. On their sides, there are many broken horizontal lines.

The Amano Shrimp is also known as the Yamato Numa-Ebi, or Japanese Swamp Shrimp and it originates from the swamps of Japan. The ideal setup for the Amano Shrimp is an established freshwater aquarium or pond of at least 10 gallons with plenty of hiding places and algae with a mature substrate. The Amano Shrimp should be housed with small peaceful fish or koi that will not pose the threat of eating it. The Amano Shrimp can tolerate low to moderate salinity levels, making them an ideal algae controller for ponds and water gardens in non-freezing climates.

Unfortunately, the Amano Shrimp is very difficult to breed, and very few hobbyists have been able to raise the larvae to maturity. The average life span of the Japonica Amano Shrimp is 2 to 3 years in captivity.

Japonica Amano Shrimp is an omnivore that will consume algae, detritus and left over food. Even if they can find food almost everywhere in the tank, once a week or so, feed Caridina Japonica with specific food or with fish pellets, some of them seem to appreciate a lot spirulina pellets.

Althought "Caridina Japonica" are known to eat algae, anyway remember the Amano shrimps are not a final solution against algae proliferation because they are too small and do not eat that much, moreover they like just some kind of algae and ignore others. The only one solution to algae problems is to control the aquarium balance, including lighting period and quality, filtration work, fish and plants number in aquascape aquarium.

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