Moderate
Ring-Necked Shrimp (Macrobrachium assamense)
20–28°C · pH 6.5–8 · 80L
£19.99
A compact South Asian freshwater prawn with interesting behavior and a semi-aggressive nature, ideal for a species tank or carefully planned community.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Macrobrachium dayanum
Kaira River Prawn live in groups — 6+ keeps them settled, active and showing their best colour.
A compact South Asian freshwater prawn with interesting behavior and a semi-aggressive nature, ideal for a species tank or carefully planned community.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
The Kaira River Prawn (Macrobrachium dayanum) is a characterful freshwater prawn for the specialist keeper, prized for its long grasping claws and busy, inquisitive foraging. Active mostly at dawn, dusk and night, it is a fascinating scavenger and opportunistic hunter that brings genuine personality to a well-structured tank.
A modest 4cm in body length, the Kaira River Prawn carries a translucent, faintly banded body and a pair of noticeably long front claws used for gathering food and, in males, for display and defence. Like all prawns it moults regularly as it grows, briefly hiding away while its new shell hardens.
Provide a mature 60-litre or larger aquarium with plenty of cover — dense planting, wood, rock and leaf litter — and secure it well, as Macrobrachium prawns are escape artists. Neutral to hard water (pH 6.5–8.0) at 22–28°C suits it, and as with all invertebrates copper-based medications must never be used.
This is a semi-aggressive, opportunistic predator. Those long claws can catch small, slow or sleeping fish, fry and dwarf shrimp at night, so choose tankmates with care and never mix it with prized nano stock.
Best kept singly or with plenty of space and cover between individuals, as prawns can be territorial with their own kind, particularly around moulting. It largely ignores fast, alert midwater fish but will opportunistically hunt anything small enough to seize, so stocking choices matter.
| Great tank mates | Best avoided |
|---|---|
| Fast midwater fish too large to catch | Dwarf shrimp |
| Robust, alert tankmates | Small or slow fish and fry |
| Larger, active barbs | Long-finned fish |
| Other prawns in tight spaces |
An unfussy omnivore and scavenger, it takes sinking pellets, algae wafers, blanched vegetables, frozen bloodworm and the occasional protein-rich morsel. In a mature tank it also cleans up leftover food and detritus. Leave the shed exoskeleton after a moult, as it is usually eaten to recover minerals.
Provide a dedicated hiding cave or dense planting where a freshly-moulted prawn can shelter — it is at its most vulnerable in the hours after shedding, and secure cover dramatically improves survival.
Every Kaira River Prawn is hand-selected and quarantined before sale, then packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed and sent by tracked, live-animal courier. Your order is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee, so it reaches you safely anywhere in the UK.
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