Lemon Amano Shrimp (Caridina multidentata “Lemon”)

A rare lemon-yellow colour morph of the True Amano Shrimp, combining the legendary grazing behaviour of Caridina multidentata with a bright yellow-to-golden translucent body.

The Lemon Amano Shrimp, also commonly called Lemon Yellow Amano Shrimp or Yellow Amano Shrimp, is a newly established selectively bred colour form of the classic Amano Shrimp.

Unlike yellow Neocaridina varieties, this is a true Amano-type shrimp belonging to Caridina multidentata, the same species as the standard translucent Amano Shrimp. It retains the larger adult size, active grazing behaviour, peaceful temperament, and complex larval reproductive cycle that make true Amano Shrimp so distinctive.

Instead of the typical transparent-grey or brownish body, the Lemon morph develops a translucent lemon-yellow to warm golden coloration. Against green aquatic plants, moss, dark substrate, and natural wood, the colour creates a noticeably brighter appearance while retaining the functional advantages of a classic Amano.

Why This Shrimp Stands Out

• Rare selectively bred True Amano colour morph
• Distinct lemon-yellow to warm golden coloration
• Same species as the standard Amano Shrimp
• Excellent natural algae and biofilm grazer
• Larger and more active than typical Neocaridina shrimp
• Peaceful and completely plant-safe
• Excellent contrast against dark substrate and green planted aquariums
• Does not establish uncontrolled populations in freshwater aquariums

What Is a Lemon Amano Shrimp?

Lemon Amano is a selectively bred colour form of Caridina multidentata. It is not a separate species and it is not a yellow Neocaridina.

Standard wild-type Amano Shrimp are mostly translucent grey, greenish-grey, or brownish with characteristic rows of spots and dashes along the sides. Lemon Amanos have been selectively developed for a much stronger yellow-to-golden body colour while retaining the basic characteristics of a true Amano Shrimp.

This colour form belongs to the same recent generation of ornamental Amano variants as Snow White Amano and Red / Orange Amano Shrimp.

True Amano / Japonica Line

The currently accepted scientific name of the true Amano Shrimp is Caridina multidentata. Older aquarium literature and many long-time aquarists still recognize the species under its former name, Caridina japonica.

At Topick Aquarium, we distinguish this True Amano / Japonica-type line from other shrimp that may also be sold under “Amano” trade names.

Lemon Amano belongs with our True Amano colour forms, alongside Snow White and Red Amano Shrimp. It should not be confused with Indonesian Amano-type shrimp or yellow Neocaridina.

Lemon Amano vs Standard Amano Shrimp

The primary difference is colour.

• Lemon Amano: selectively bred for translucent lemon-yellow to golden pigmentation
• Standard Amano: naturally translucent grey, brown, or greenish-grey with characteristic lateral markings

Their basic adult size, care requirements, diet, social behaviour, and reproductive biology are otherwise the same.

Lemon Amano should therefore be viewed as a coloured version of the classic Amano rather than an entirely different type of shrimp.

Lemon Amano vs Snow White & Red Amano

Lemon, Snow White, and Red Amano Shrimp are modern selectively bred colour expressions of the same true Amano species.

• Lemon Amano: yellow, lemon, gold, or warm translucent coloration
• Snow White Amano: white, cream-white, or milky translucent coloration
• Red Amano: red, pink-red, orange-red, or warm reddish coloration
• Standard Amano: translucent natural grey-brown appearance

All of these colour forms can be maintained under essentially the same aquarium conditions.

Lemon Amano vs Yellow Neocaridina

Although both can be yellow, they are very different shrimp.

• Lemon Amano: Caridina multidentata, larger-bodied, highly active grazer, produces tiny larvae that require brackish or marine-influenced conditions for development
• Yellow Neocaridina: Neocaridina davidi colour strain, smaller-bodied and produces fully formed miniature shrimp directly in freshwater

Lemon Amanos are therefore not simply a larger yellow cherry shrimp. Their behaviour, adult size, reproductive cycle, and overall role in a planted aquarium are different.

Topick Aquarium Insight

The appeal of Lemon Amano is that it does not force you to choose between an ornamental shrimp and a functional Amano.

Standard Amanos are popular because they spend a large part of the day actively searching plants, rocks, wood, and substrate for algae, biofilm, microorganisms, and leftover food. Lemon Amanos retain this same general grazing behaviour while being significantly easier to see in a planted display.

We still do not recommend purchasing any shrimp as a replacement for aquarium maintenance. Amanos can significantly assist with algae and biofilm management, but lighting, nutrients, plant health, feeding, filtration, and maintenance remain the foundation of algae control.

Is Lemon Amano a Good Algae Eater?

Yes. Lemon Amano Shrimp retain the active grazing behaviour that makes standard Amano Shrimp one of the most useful freshwater shrimp for planted aquariums.

They commonly graze:

• Soft green algae
• Green hair and thread-type algae
• Biofilm
• Soft algae growing on plants and hardscape
• Uneaten fish food
• Decaying organic material

They should not be expected to remove every type of algae. Mature hard spot algae, severe black beard algae, and large algae outbreaks should be addressed by correcting the underlying aquarium conditions rather than relying only on livestock.

Colour & Individual Variation

Lemon Amanos are selected for yellow coloration, but individual intensity naturally varies.

Depending on the shrimp, age, molt stage, lighting, background, and genetics, individuals may appear:

• Pale lemon yellow
• Clear yellow
• Warm golden yellow
• Yellow with translucent areas
• Slightly greenish-yellow under certain lighting

The colour is part of the selectively bred line rather than artificial dyeing. However, product photos should still be considered representative because no two individual shrimp will display exactly the same colour intensity.

Tank Setup

Lemon Amanos are best added to a mature aquarium with stable water and established grazing surfaces.

• 10 gallons or larger recommended for a small group
• Mature planted aquarium strongly preferred
• Moss, wood, rocks, and plants provide excellent grazing surfaces
• Gentle to moderate filtration
• Good oxygenation
• Shrimp-safe filter intake recommended
• Provide hiding areas for freshly molted shrimp
• Secure lid recommended — Amanos are excellent climbers and explorers

A newly cycled aquarium with little biofilm is much less suitable than a mature tank. Amanos continuously explore surfaces for natural food, so biological maturity matters.

Water Parameters

• Scientific Name: Caridina multidentata “Lemon”
• Former Scientific Name: Caridina japonica
• Common Names: Lemon Amano Shrimp, Lemon Yellow Amano Shrimp, Yellow Amano Shrimp
• Type: Selectively bred True Amano colour morph
• Adult Size: approximately 3.5–5 cm
• Temperature: approximately 20–26°C
• pH: approximately 6.5–8.0
• GH: approximately 5–15 dGH
• KH: approximately 1–10 dKH
• Temperament: Peaceful, active grazer
• Diet: Omnivorous grazer / scavenger
• Care Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Amano Shrimp are adaptable once established, but they remain sensitive to ammonia, nitrite, sudden parameter changes, and poor water quality.

Stable mineral content is particularly important for normal molting. Avoid constantly changing GH, KH, or TDS simply to chase one exact number.

Feeding

In a mature planted aquarium, Lemon Amanos spend much of the day grazing naturally. However, aquarium algae alone should not be assumed to provide a complete diet.

Supplement with:

• High-quality shrimp foods
• Algae wafers
• Spirulina-based foods
• Biofilm-supporting foods
• Blanched vegetables
• Quality omnivore sinking foods
• Small amounts of protein-containing foods

Amanos can be surprisingly competitive at feeding time. In mixed shrimp aquariums, watch that they do not carry away an oversized food pellet and monopolize it from smaller shrimp.

Tank Mates

Lemon Amanos are peaceful and work well with many community fish and other peaceful invertebrates.

• Small peaceful tetras
• Rasboras
• Danios
• Medaka and other peaceful nano fish
• Cory-type catfish
• Otocinclus
• Neocaridina Shrimp
• Caridina Shrimp
• Other Amano colour forms
• Peaceful freshwater snails

Avoid puffers, many loaches, larger cichlids, large predatory fish, and any tank mate capable of swallowing or seriously injuring the shrimp.

Can Lemon, Red, Snow & Standard Amanos Live Together?

Yes. These are compatible colour forms of the same Amano species and share essentially the same aquarium requirements.

A mixed group of Standard, Lemon, Snow White, and Red Amanos can create a particularly attractive planted aquarium while retaining the active grazing behaviour associated with Amano Shrimp.

Breeding & Why They Do Not Form Colonies in Freshwater

Adult Lemon Amanos can mate and females can carry eggs in freshwater. However, their reproductive cycle is very different from Neocaridina and most ornamental bee shrimp.

Females produce a large number of extremely small eggs. After hatching, the offspring enter a free-swimming larval stage rather than emerging as miniature copies of the adults.

These larvae cannot complete normal development in a standard freshwater aquarium. They require brackish to marine-influenced conditions during larval development before the juveniles eventually transition back to freshwater.

Therefore, Lemon Amanos will not normally establish a self-reproducing population in a freshwater display aquarium.

Modern commercial breeders have become increasingly successful at completing this complex lifecycle, which is one reason selectively bred Snow, Red / Orange, and Lemon Amano colour forms are now becoming available in the aquarium trade.

Male vs Female Amano Shrimp

Mature females are generally noticeably larger and broader-bodied than males.

• Females: larger, deeper abdomen designed for carrying large numbers of eggs
• Males: generally smaller and slimmer

In standard Amanos, the pattern of lateral spots and dashes can also help with sexing. In strongly coloured morphs such as Lemon, Snow, and Red, pigmentation may make those traditional markings less obvious, so body shape is often more useful.

Molting & Mineral Stability

Like all shrimp, Lemon Amanos periodically shed their exoskeleton as they grow.

A freshly molted shrimp may temporarily hide while its new shell hardens. Shed exoskeletons can normally be left in the aquarium because shrimp often consume them and recycle some of the minerals.

Repeated molting problems should prompt a review of GH, mineral balance, water quality, diet, and parameter stability rather than simply adding more calcium without testing.

Copper & Medication Safety

Shrimp are sensitive to certain medications and elevated concentrations of heavy metals, including copper.

Always confirm that aquarium medications are considered safe for freshwater shrimp before treatment. Do not assume a medication designed for fish is automatically safe for invertebrates.

Canada-Wide Live Shrimp Shipping

Lemon Amano Shrimp are available from Topick Aquarium in Canada when in stock. Local pickup is available in Markham / Unionville, Ontario, and Canada-wide live shrimp shipping may be available depending on weather, route, and livestock condition.

Learn more about Topick Aquarium's Canada-wide live fish and shrimp shipping process.

Important Note

Lemon Amano is a selectively bred colour morph of the True Amano Shrimp, Caridina multidentata. It is not a separate species and should not be confused with Yellow Neocaridina or unrelated shrimp sold under similar colour names.

Individual yellow intensity, transparency, size, sex, and markings naturally vary. Lighting, aquarium background, age, molt stage, and individual genetics can all influence appearance.

Unless specifically listed as WYSIWYG, product photos should be considered representative of the colour line rather than an exact image of every shrimp sold.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Lemon Amano Shrimp?
Lemon Amano is a selectively bred yellow colour morph of the True Amano Shrimp, Caridina multidentata. It has the same general care, adult size, grazing behaviour, and reproductive biology as a standard Amano Shrimp.

Is Lemon Amano the same species as a regular Amano Shrimp?
Yes. Both are Caridina multidentata. Lemon Amano has simply been selectively bred for stronger lemon-yellow to golden coloration.

Is Caridina japonica the same as Caridina multidentata?
Caridina japonica is the older scientific name widely used for the true Amano Shrimp. The currently accepted species name is Caridina multidentata.

Is Lemon Amano a true Amano Shrimp?
Yes. The Lemon colour morph belongs to the same true Amano species as the standard Amano, Snow White Amano, and modern Red / Orange Amano colour forms.

Is Lemon Amano the same as Yellow Neocaridina?
No. Lemon Amano is Caridina multidentata, while Yellow Neocaridina is a colour strain of Neocaridina davidi. Amanos grow larger and have a completely different larval breeding cycle.

Does Lemon Amano stay yellow?
Lemon coloration is part of the selectively bred line, but exact intensity naturally varies. Individual shrimp may range from pale translucent lemon to stronger golden yellow depending on genetics, age, molt stage, lighting, and aquarium conditions.

Is the yellow colour dyed or artificially added?
No. Lemon Amano is a selectively bred colour morph. Individual colour intensity varies naturally and is not created through artificial dyeing.

Are Lemon Amano Shrimp good algae eaters?
Yes. They retain the active algae and biofilm grazing behaviour of standard Amano Shrimp and are particularly useful in mature planted aquariums. They should still receive supplemental food and should not be viewed as a replacement for aquarium maintenance.

Will Lemon Amano eat hair algae?
Amano Shrimp commonly graze soft hair and thread-type algae, especially when they are not being overfed. Severe algae problems should still be corrected by addressing lighting, nutrients, maintenance, and overall aquarium balance.

Can Lemon Amano live with Red or Snow White Amano Shrimp?
Yes. Standard, Lemon, Snow White, and Red / Orange Amanos have essentially the same aquarium requirements and can be kept together.

Can Lemon Amano Shrimp breed in freshwater?
Adults can mate and females can carry eggs in freshwater, but the larvae cannot complete normal development in freshwater. Successful breeding requires a specialized brackish or marine-influenced larval stage before juveniles return to freshwater.

Will Lemon Amano Shrimp overpopulate my aquarium?
No. They do not normally establish reproducing colonies in a freshwater display aquarium because their larvae require a different salinity environment to develop successfully.

How big do Lemon Amano Shrimp get?
Adults commonly reach approximately 3.5–5 cm, with mature females generally becoming larger and heavier-bodied than males.

Are Lemon Amano Shrimp beginner-friendly?
Yes, once placed into a mature, stable aquarium. They are relatively adaptable but should not be added to an uncycled tank containing ammonia or nitrite.