Riceland prawn

Care at a glance

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.

Common questions

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