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Pinocchio Shrimp
Caridina gracilirostris
📍 Southeast Asia
Pinocchio Shrimp are small, peaceful freshwater shrimp named for their distinctively elongated rostrum (nose-like snout). These attractive shrimp are excellent algae grazers and biofilm consumers, making them ideal for planted tanks and community setups. They require stable water parameters and a mature tank with plenty of biofilm to thrive.
Care Guide
Diet
Pinocchio Shrimp are primarily detritivores that feed on biofilm, algae, and decaying plant matter. Supplement with high-quality shrimp pellets, blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach), and algae wafers 2-3 times weekly. A mature, established tank with abundant biofilm is essential for their long-term health.
Behavior
These shrimp are bottom-dwellers that spend most of their time grazing on surfaces and sifting through substrate. They are social and do best in small groups or colonies of 6+ individuals. They molt regularly as they grow; provide plenty of hiding spots with plants and hardscape to feel secure during vulnerable molting periods.
Breeding
Pinocchio Shrimp breed readily in freshwater without requiring brackish conditions, making them excellent for home aquariums. Females produce small batches of shrimplets that develop directly without a larval stage. A mature, stable tank with good water quality and plenty of biofilm will support natural breeding and juvenile survival.
Tank Mates
Similar peaceful shrimp; compatible colony members with comparable care needs
Small, peaceful fish that won't predate on shrimp; occupy different water zones
Peaceful algae-eating fish; similar biofilm-dependent diet and gentle temperament
Provides essential hiding spots, biofilm growth, and grazing surfaces for shrimp
Dense plant growth offers shelter and biofilm accumulation for shrimp colonies
Tiny, non-aggressive fish that coexist peacefully with small shrimp
Common Diseases
Molting Issues / Failed Molt
Shrimp unable to shed exoskeleton; lethargy; stuck between old and new shell; death if not resolved
Ensure adequate calcium and minerals (GH 4-8 dGH); provide iodine-rich foods; maintain stable water parameters; increase hiding spots; perform gentle 25% water changes
Copper Toxicity
Lethargy, loss of appetite, discoloration, sudden death; shrimp are extremely sensitive to copper
Never use copper-based medications or fertilizers; avoid tap water with high copper content; use RO water if needed; perform large water changes; use copper-binding agents if exposure occurs
Bacterial Infection / Shell Rot
Soft spots on shell, discoloration, visible lesions, cloudy appearance on body
Perform 30% water change; improve water quality and oxygenation; remove decaying food and waste; maintain stable parameters; isolate severely affected individuals if possible
Parasitic Flukes / Ich
White spots on body, excessive scratching against surfaces, lethargy, difficulty molting
Raise temperature gradually to 26-28 C (79-82 F) if tolerated; increase aeration; perform daily 25% water changes; avoid copper treatments; use shrimp-safe salt baths only as last resort
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore/detritivore - primarily biofilm, algae, and decaying plant matter
- lifespan
- 2-3 years
- max size
- 3 cm (1.2 in)
- tank size
- 10 gallons minimum
- temperament
- peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.5-7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 4-8 dGH
- temperature
- 72–79°F (22–26°C)