Lanchester's freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium lanchesteri) care guide
- Group
- Shrimp
- Other names
- Malaysian glass shrimp, Glass prawn, Lanchester's prawn
- Family
- Palaemonidae
- Origin
- South-east Asia (Malaysia, Thailand and neighbouring countries): ponds, ditches, rice fields and slow rivers
- Water
- freshwater
- Care level
- beginner
- Temperament
- semi_aggressive
Care
Macrobrachium lanchesteri is a small, glassy freshwater prawn from South-east Asia, often sold simply as glass or ghost shrimp. It is almost transparent with faint speckling, and males develop longer, stronger front claws than females. Like other Macrobrachium it has a pair of clawed walking legs that it uses to catch food. Our sources have little on this species; the figures are general guidance, not from a source. It is hardy and suits a tropical community or species tank with plants and hiding places, in ordinary soft to moderately hard tropical water. Keep it in a group with plenty of cover, as larger males can be territorial. Many 'glass shrimp' in shops are a mix of species, some of which grow larger and are more predatory, so check what you are buying. It is a busy scavenger that eats leftover food and detritus, but it is an opportunistic predator, not a dedicated algae eater. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most other invertebrates. Never dose them in a tank holding this animal, and check the label of any treatment or fertiliser before use. Sources: general hobby knowledge only; no source covered this species. Checked October 2026.
Diet
Omnivorous scavenger: takes sinking pellets, flake, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp and leftover food, and grazes detritus and biofilm. It will catch and eat very small fish fry and baby shrimp.
Breeding
Unlike many Macrobrachium, this species is reported in the hobby to breed readily in fresh water, with large eggs and young that hatch in an advanced state, so no brackish water is needed. Females carry the eggs under the tail. Raise the young in a separate tank, because adults eat them. Our sources do not describe its breeding in detail.
Compatibility and tank mates
Semi-aggressive in the sense that it hunts small animals: do not keep with dwarf shrimp you want to breed, or with fish fry or very small fish. Fine with medium-sized peaceful fish that will not eat it, and with snails. Larger males can squabble among themselves.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.