African Fan Shrimp, lat. Atya gabonensis- Atya gabonensis distribution
Family: Atyidae;
Genus: Atya;
Species and synonyms: African Fan Shrimp (Atya gabonensis, African Fan Shrimp, African Filter Shrimp, Vampire Shrimp, Blue Rhino Shrimp, Gabon Shrimp, Cameroon Fan Shrimp, Giant Fan Shrimp).
GBIF:
African Fan Shrimp (lat. Atya gabonensis) is a species of freshwater shrimp from the order Decapoda, family Atyidae, genus Atya. A large, peaceful and very unusual shrimp, popular in the aquarium hobby due to its impressive appearance and filter-feeding method.
Distribution. This species is distributed on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. It is found in West Africa — from Senegal to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as on the eastern coast of South America — from Venezuela to Brazil. It inhabits clear, fast-flowing rivers and streams with rocky bottoms, often in the upper reaches.
Care requirements. This is one of the largest freshwater shrimp, reaching 10–15 cm in the aquarium. To keep a group, an aquarium of at least 80–100 liters is required. The shrimp are predominantly nocturnal or crepuscular, so they need plenty of hiding places — driftwood, stones, ceramic pipes, dense thickets of plants. The substrate should preferably be sandy or fine gravel. It is essential to have areas with strong water flow where the shrimp will sit and filter the water. Optimal water parameters: temperature 23–28°C, pH 6.5–8.0, hardness 6–15 dGH.
They are absolutely peaceful and pose no danger to fish or other inhabitants. They are compatible with most peaceful fish of medium size — tetras, rasboras, danios, corydoras. They are incompatible with large and aggressive fish (cichlids, large catfish) that may perceive them as prey or damage their delicate fan bristles.
Feeding. Like all representatives of the genus, these shrimp are filter feeders. They use modified front limbs with fan-shaped bristles to collect small particles of food, plankton and organic detritus from the water. **This is the main difficulty in keeping them**: in a clean aquarium, the shrimp may simply starve to death. They must be fed specialized finely dispersed foods: dry flakes ground into dust, liquid food for plankton feeders, brine shrimp, cyclops, spirulina. It is best to introduce food directly into the flow zone where the shrimp are sitting. If the shrimp starts actively crawling on the bottom and collecting food from the substrate, it is a sure sign that it is not getting enough food from the water column.
Coloration varies from creamy white and gray to deep blue, depending on the conditions (usually brighter coloration appears on dark substrate). Color may change after each molt. The shrimp are very sensitive to high levels of ammonia, nitrites and copper compounds, so regular water changes and the use of only safe medications for fish treatment are essential. Molting occurs regularly, after which the shrimp hide until their new shell hardens.
Breeding in home aquariums is an extremely difficult task and almost never succeeds. Although females may carry eggs, the development of larvae requires brackish or marine water, into which the larvae must enter at a certain stage of development. Creating such conditions in an aquarium is practically impossible.