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
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Southeast Asia
Family: Palaemonidae

Overview

Riceland prawns, also sold as whisker shrimp, are slim, near-transparent prawns with long front limbs and a bold, predatory streak. They are active hunters that will catch and eat dwarf shrimp, snails, and small or sleeping fish, so they are not a safe pick for a peaceful community. They are found in groups in the wild and can be kept together in a species tank with heavy planting, wood, and pipes to break up sight lines and reduce squabbles. Keep copper out, since it harms all crustaceans. Feed sinking pellets and meaty foods. A tank of 60 liters or more gives a group room.

In the wild

Macrobrachium lanchesteri lives across Southeast Asia in rice paddies, ponds, canals, and slow rivers, often in large numbers among plants and flooded roots. It is adaptable and settles into a tank held warm, from about 24 to 30 c, with a pH anywhere from 6.5 to 8. Dense plants, leaf litter, driftwood, and tangles of roots give it the cover it uses to ambush prey and to hide after molting. Gentle flow and clean, stable water suit it, much like the calm, food-rich shallows it comes from.

Good to know

Macrobrachium lanchesteri is a long-armed prawn in the family Palaemonidae. It is small for its genus: the body runs roughly 5 to 6 cm, with the slender front claws and long feelers adding to its reach. It molts to grow like other crustaceans. Unusually for the genus, it can complete its life cycle in pure fresh water rather than needing brackish water for its larvae, yet the tiny young are hard to rear in a tank, so it is rated a difficult breeder.

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 tankmates a keeper meant them to live alongside.