Chameleon Prawn (Macrobrachium lanatum)
| Chameleon Prawn Macrobrachium lanatum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Chameleon Prawn |
| Name Lat. | Macrobrachium lanatum |
| Synonym | Macrobrachium scabriculum |
| Family | Palaemonid Shrimps |
| Family lat. | Palaemonidae |
| Order | Decapoda |
| Order lat. | Decapoda |
| Origin | Southeast Asia |
| Habitat | Streams |
| Diet | Detritus, algae, shrimp food |
| pH | 6.5-8.0 |
| Behavior | ♂ territorial |
| Keeping | Harem |
| Care Level | Difficult |
| Reproduction | Marine larval stages |
| Breeding | None reported |
| Life Span | 2-4 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 7-9 cm |
| Temperature | 23-27 °C |
| Hardness | 5-15 °dH |
| Aquarium | 60 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 2.8"-3.5" |
| Temperature | 73-81 °F |
| Hardness | 89-267 ppm |
| Aquarium | 15 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the chameleon shrimp are coastal waters from India over Myanmar to Malaysia. They live in slow-flowing streams and rivers that flow into the sea, preferably in places with foliage and dead wood.
Maintenance
They need a well-structured aquarium with many roots, some robust plants and large stones as well as a moderate current. The substrate of sand or gravel should be partially covered with foliage (e.g. sea almond leaves, oak leaves).
No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite should be detectable in the aquarium water, the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the size of the aquarium is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals. When choosing the filter, special care should be taken to ensure that the animals cannot be sucked in.
Diet
They feed on animal organisms, carrion, snails and dead plant material (sea almond leaves). The diet consists of a combination of live or frozen foods, such as cyclops, daphnia, mosquito larvae, artemia, mysis and tubifex, or a commercial frozen special food mix supplemented with dry foods (tablets, granules) for crayfish and shrimp. Occasionally, slow and weakened fish are also preyed upon.
Regular and varied feeding promotes health and prevents deficiency symptoms. Unaccepted food must be removed after 2-3 hours
Behaviour and compatibility
They should be kept in a harem, one male with several females and are well suited for a community tank with not too small fish. Males behave territorially within the species. Keeping multiple harems is only recommended in larger and richly structured tanks.
Basically, only compatible animals with similar demands on water quality and water temperature should be kept together
Reproduction and breeding
The males have slightly larger claws than the females. The breeding of chameleon shrimp in the aquarium has not yet succeeded, because the larvae go through more than ten brackish water-bound developmental (zoea) stages.
Important
In the course of their life they change their basic coloration. Young animals are transparent, then they become mostly bluish and later brown to black.
They are skillful fish catchers. Keeping them in a community tank with small fish is not recommended.
The foliage (sea almond tree, oak, beech, etc.) not only provides cover, but when rotting promotes the development of microorganisms, which are a valuable secondary food source
The well-being of the animals should be monitored regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even when contaminant levels have not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced animals must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: petdata; Image: Franz Lowak
Source: KARGE & KLOTZ (2007): Süßwassergarnelen aus aller Welt, Dähne Verlag; ENGELMANN & LANGE (2011): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Wirbellose, Verlag Harri Deutsch