Invertebrates

Explore all invertebrates in our database. Browse detailed care guides, compatibility information, and species data to find the perfect fish for your aquarium.

Showing 1 - 17 of 17 Fish Profiles

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Invertebrates

5 cm Peaceful

A highly popular, industrious freshwater shrimp renowned for its unmatched algae-eating abilities. Popularized by aquascaper Takashi Amano, they are significantly larger and hardier than most dwarf shrimp (like Cherry Shrimp). They are notorious food-thieves during feeding time and excellent escape artists, requiring a tight-fitting lid. Their larvae require saltwater to develop, so they will not overpopulate in a freshwater aquarium.

Apple Snail

Pomacea maculata

Invertebrates

15 cm Peaceful

One of the largest freshwater snails in the world, capable of reaching the size of a baseball or larger. Unlike the popular 'Mystery Snail' (Pomacea bridgesii) which is generally plant-safe, Pomacea maculata is a voracious herbivore that will systematically devour almost any live aquarium plant. They require heavy filtration due to their massive waste output and hard, calcium-rich water to prevent shell deterioration.

Assassin Snail

Clea helena

Invertebrates

2.5 cm Peaceful

A highly effective and popular carnivorous freshwater snail used primarily for pest snail control. They actively hunt and consume smaller snails like bladder, ramshorn, and pond snails. Featuring a striking yellow and dark brown spiraled shell, they are a functional and attractive addition to aquariums. Unlike many aquatic snails, they are not hermaphroditic and reproduce quite slowly.

Bamboo Shrimp

Atyopsis moluccensis

Invertebrates

10 cm Peaceful

A large, completely peaceful freshwater filter-feeding shrimp. They use specialized fan-like appendages to catch microorganisms and fine food particles from the water column. They require an established aquarium with moderate to high water flow and tall resting places (like driftwood) directly in the current.

Bee Shrimp (Crystal Red / Black)

Caridina cantonensis

Invertebrates

3 cm Peaceful

A sensitive, highly prized dwarf shrimp species known for its vivid red/white or black/white banding. Unlike the hardy Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina), Bee Shrimp require cool, soft, acidic water and typically require active buffering soil to thrive. They are peaceful grazers perfect for specific biotope setups.

Bladder Snail (Pest Snail)

Physella acuta

Invertebrates

1.5 cm Peaceful

A tiny, fast-moving freshwater snail almost universally introduced accidentally via live aquarium plants. While frequently labeled a 'pest' due to their rapid, prolific reproduction, they are actually an excellent cleanup crew. They consume algae, uneaten food, and decaying plant matter without harming healthy plants. They are hermaphroditic and can self-fertilize, meaning a single snail can start a massive colony.

Cherry Shrimp

Neocaridina davidi

Invertebrates

3 cm Peaceful

One of the most popular and hardy freshwater invertebrates in the hobby. They come in a rainbow of selectively bred colors. They are excellent scavengers and algae eaters, perfect for nano planted tanks. They are completely peaceful and have a negligible bioload, though they are highly vulnerable to predation by almost any fish with a mouth large enough to eat them.

Fiddler Crab (Brackish)

Uca sp.

Invertebrates

5 cm Mostly Peaceful

Fiddler Crabs are semi-terrestrial invertebrates that absolutely require a specialized tank (paludarium) with access to dry land. They CANNOT survive fully submerged and will drown. Furthermore, they require brackish water for long-term survival, despite often being incorrectly sold as freshwater pets. They are social, highly active scavengers.

Ghost Shrimp

Palaemonetes paludosus

Invertebrates

4 cm Peaceful

A completely transparent freshwater shrimp native to the southeastern United States. While frequently sold as inexpensive feeder animals, they make fascinating, active scavengers for nano and peaceful community tanks. They tirelessly consume uneaten food and detritus but have a relatively short lifespan of 1 to 2 years.

Malaysian Trumpet Snail (MTS)

Melanoides tuberculata

Invertebrates

3 cm Peaceful

The Malaysian Trumpet Snail is a highly beneficial, albeit prolific, freshwater invertebrate. They are famous for burrowing deep into the substrate during the day, which prevents toxic anaerobic gas pockets and aerates plant roots. They emerge at night to scavenge for detritus, algae, and uneaten food. They reproduce via parthenogenesis, meaning a single snail can quickly clone itself to start a colony.

Mexican Dwarf Crayfish (CPO)

Cambarellus patzcuarensis

Invertebrates

5 cm Mostly Peaceful

A highly entertaining, fully aquatic dwarf crayfish. In the aquarium trade, the bright orange 'CPO' morph is the most popular. Unlike larger crayfish, they are generally safe with plants and fast-moving mid-to-top dwelling fish. However, they are opportunistic omnivores with claws; they will hunt dwarf shrimp and may nip the fins of slow, long-finned bottom dwellers.

Mystery Snail

Pomacea bridgesii

Invertebrates

5 cm Peaceful

A large, popular, and active freshwater snail. Unlike other apple snails, they generally do not eat live, healthy plants, preferring algae, detritus, and sinking foods. They require calcium-rich, alkaline water to prevent shell erosion. Females will frequently leave the water to lay distinct pink egg clutches above the waterline.

Nerite Snail

Neritina natalensis

Invertebrates

2.5 cm Peaceful

The gold standard for algae control in freshwater aquariums. Native to Africa, these snails are renowned for their voracious appetite for diatoms and spot algae. A key feature is their inability to breed in freshwater; they lay white sesame-seed-like eggs that will not hatch without brackish/marine conditions, preventing population explosions. They are escapists and require a tight-fitting lid.

Panther Crab

Parathelphusa pantherina

Invertebrates

10 cm Aggressive

A striking, fully aquatic freshwater crab endemic to Lake Matano in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Recognizable by its pale yellow-orange body covered in dark panther-like spots. They are opportunistic scavengers and predators that will hunt snails, shrimp, and bottom-dwelling or sleeping fish. They are notorious escape artists and require a very tight-fitting lid. Unlike many crabs, they do not require a land area, though they need plenty of underwater rock caves.

Ramshorn Snail

Planorbidae fam.

Invertebrates

2 cm Peaceful

Ramshorn snails are highly adaptable, peaceful invertebrates named for their shells, which resemble a coiled ram's horn. They are excellent clean-up crew members that consume detritus, uneaten food, and soft algae without harming healthy plants. Because they are hermaphroditic and can self-fertilize, they breed prolifically if an aquarium is overfed.

Thai Micro Crab

Limnopilos naiyanetri

Invertebrates

1.5 cm Peaceful

The Thai Micro Crab is a fully aquatic, extremely small freshwater crab native to a single river system (the Tha Chin river) in Thailand. They are exceptionally peaceful and lack standard defensive capabilities. Instead of hunting, they use tiny hairs on their claws to catch detritus and filter-feed biofilm. Due to their miniature size and incredibly shy nature, they must be kept with peaceful nano tank mates (like Neocaridina shrimp) or in a species-only setup to prevent predation.

Vampire Shrimp

Atya gabonensis

Invertebrates

15 cm Peaceful

Despite its intimidating name, the Vampire Shrimp is a gentle giant. It is a strictly peaceful freshwater invertebrate that uses specialized fan-like appendages to filter microscopic food from the water column. They require heavily oxygenated water with strong currents, mature tanks (to ensure suspended particulate matter), and places to hide.