Glass Shrimp

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Southeast Asia, widely distributed in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Found in slow-moving rivers, swamps, and rice fields.

Taxonomy: Member of the family Palaemonidae, genus Macrobrachium. Notable for its long, slender second chelipeds.

Social Behavior: Highly territorial and aggressive. Actively patrols the bottom, defending its shelter using its long claws.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Body is translucent gray-green. The carapace is marked by thin parallel horizontal black stripes.

Tank Setup: Requires a tank of at least 60 liters with abundant caves, driftwood, and pipes to minimize intraspecific fighting.

Diet and Feeding: Omnivorous and predatory. Feeds on sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms, and detritus. Will hunt small snails and resting fish.

Water Quality: Standard freshwater parameters: temperature 20-28 °C, pH 7.0-8.0, moderate to high hardness, and clean water conditions.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Not suitable for community tanks with small or long-finned fish. Best kept alone or in large tanks with robust fish.

Aquarium Breeding: Females carry numerous small eggs under the pleopods. Spawned larvae undergo multiple development stages in freshwater.

Risks and Diseases: High risk of cannibalism during molting if hiding places are insufficient. Highly sensitive to copper treatments.