TankBud

Riceland prawn

Macrobrachium lanchesteri

Also known as whisker shrimp

FreshwaterShrimp

Riceland prawn (Macrobrachium lanchesteri)
Weimar Meneses · CC BY 2.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–86°F
24–30°C
pH
6.5–8.0
Adult size
2.4 in
6 cm
Minimum tank
16 gal
60 L
Temperament
Aggressive
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Palaemonidae
Origin
Southeast Asia

Overview

The riceland prawn, also sold as whisker shrimp, is a slim, near-transparent prawn with long front limbs and a bold, predatory streak. It suits keepers with a little experience.

Did you know

Riceland prawns are often sold cheaply as ghost or glass shrimp, but they are not harmless. As they grow, their lengthening claws let them hunt the very tank mates a keeper meant them to live alongside.

Caring for the riceland prawn

Riceland prawns can be kept together in a species tank of 16 gal (60 L) or more, which gives a group room. Plant the tank densely, and add leaf litter, driftwood, tangles of roots and pipes. That cover breaks up sight lines, reduces squabbles and gives them places to ambush prey and hide after molting.

They are adaptable and settle into a tank held at 75 to 86°F (24 to 30°C), with a pH anywhere from 6.5 to 8.0. Gentle flow and clean, stable water suit them. Keep copper out, since it harms all crustaceans.

Feed sinking pellets and meaty foods. Riceland prawns are active hunters that will catch and eat dwarf shrimp, snails and small or sleeping fish. That makes them a poor pick for a peaceful community.

The riceland prawn molts to grow, like other crustaceans. Unusually for its genus, it can complete its life cycle in pure fresh water, without brackish water for its larvae. The tiny young are still hard to rear in a tank, so breeding it is rated hard.

Good to know

Macrobrachium lanchesteri is a long-armed prawn in the family Palaemonidae, and it is small for its genus. Its slender front claws and long feelers add to its reach.

In the wild

The riceland prawn lives across Southeast Asia in rice paddies, ponds, canals and slow rivers. It is often found in large numbers among plants and flooded roots, in calm, food-rich shallows.

Common questions

What size tank does a riceland prawn need?

A riceland prawn needs at least 16 gal (60 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a riceland prawn need?

A riceland prawn is comfortable at 75–86°F (24–30°C) with a pH of 6.5–8.0.

What does a riceland prawn eat?

A riceland prawn eats sinking pellets and meaty foods. It is also an active hunter that will catch dwarf shrimp, snails and small or sleeping fish.

How big does a riceland prawn get?

An adult riceland prawn reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).

How does a riceland prawn breed?

A riceland prawn, unusually for its genus, can complete its life cycle in pure fresh water. Its tiny young are hard to rear in a tank, so breeding it is rated hard.

Related species