Atya gabonensi (Vampire Shrimp)

Atya gabonensi or vampire shrimp is a peaceful shrimp (unlike its English name) that uses its feather-like claspers to feed by filtering particles in the water. This shrimp is able to change colors, which range from a deep, silvery blue to a russet brown. These shrimp in time usually grow up to about 5-6 inches (12-15 cm). These shrimp are found in Western Africa, from Senegal to Democratic Republic of the Congo and in South America, from Venezuela to Brazil.

The vampire shrimp are usually kept at the temperatures 74 - 84 °F (23–29 °C). These shrimp need to hide during its molting process. like the dwarf shrimp the vampire shrimp will eat algae and leftover fish food, and also invertebrate food pellets. The water they should be kept in a aquarium is soft to hard water. Also they should be kept in a water with a pH range of 6.5 to 7.4. If kept in a aquarium, it should be alongside live, thriving plants (not withering ones,) such as java moss, thus of the cover plants provide for this creature, eating algae off plants, and for better water quality.