Red Nose Shrimp Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

Red Nose Shrimp, also known as Pinocchio Shrimp, are delicate, translucent freshwater prawns distinguished by their long, narrow red rostrum. Their mostly clear body may show fine red markings, a pale dorsal stripe or subtle reddish colouration that becomes more noticeable when the shrimp is settled and well fed.

These shrimp are peaceful and spend much of their time picking at surfaces with their tiny claws. They are active scavengers rather than aggressive hunters, and their unusual extended snout gives them a distinctive profile as they move through plants, wood and fine-leaved aquatic growth.

In nature, Caridina gracilirostris is associated with slow-moving freshwater, tidal creeks and estuarine environments. This connection with changing salinity is important to the species' life cycle, particularly because its larvae do not develop in the same fully freshwater conditions preferred by the adults.

Red Nose Shrimp are often sold as freshwater aquarium animals, but they are more sensitive and less adaptable than many commonly kept Neocaridina shrimp. Their slender appearance and interesting breeding biology make them especially appealing to aquarists who enjoy specialist invertebrates.

Red Nose Shrimp are native to tropical parts of the Indo-Pacific, including coastal freshwater and estuarine habitats in South and Southeast Asia. Their range is associated with countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, although records and trade names can vary between populations.

A group of Red Nose Shrimp should have at least 40 litres of mature, stable water, with a footprint of roughly 45 × 30 cm or larger. Use a gentle sponge filter or a pre-filtered intake, subdued flow and plenty of fine-leaved plants, moss, driftwood and other surfaces where biofilm can develop. A dark, inert sand or fine gravel substrate helps display their colours, while dense planting and leaf litter provide security for adults and young shrimp. Avoid copper-based medications, sudden parameter changes and immature aquariums.

Females reach about 3.5 cm (1.4 inches), while males are usually smaller at around 2.5–3 cm (1–1.2 inches).

Red Nose Shrimp graze naturally on algae, biofilm, microorganisms and tiny organic particles found on plants and hard surfaces. Supplement this with a good-quality shrimp food in small amounts, along with occasional blanched spinach, courgette or other suitable vegetables. Fallen leaves such as Indian almond or beech provide both grazing material and shelter, while uneaten food should be removed promptly to protect water quality.

Red Nose Shrimp do best with peaceful, small tankmates such as Otocinclus, pygmy Corydoras, small rasboras, ember tetras and other calm nano fish, although even small fish may eat shrimplets. They can generally be kept with other peaceful Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp when water requirements are compatible. Avoid bettas, larger tetras, cichlids, gouramis, loaches, crayfish and other predatory or highly boisterous species, which may consume or continually harass them.

Red Nose Shrimp are egg-carrying breeders. After mating, the female holds a clutch of eggs beneath her abdomen until they hatch, but the newly emerged larvae are free-swimming and require brackish conditions and suitable microscopic foods to complete their development. They are therefore difficult to raise in a standard freshwater aquarium; successful breeding usually involves moving berried females or larvae to a carefully prepared brackish rearing setup before gradually acclimating the juveniles to freshwater.

Females are typically larger and deeper-bodied than males, with a broader abdomen for carrying eggs. Males are slimmer and usually have a more streamlined profile; females may also show a visible saddle or developing eggs when mature.