The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Armoured Giant Fan Camaroon Shrimp Atya Gabonensis
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Armoured or Giant African Fan Shrimp is a heavily built filter feeder with a thick, ridged shell that ranges from grey-blue to rusty brown. Native to West African rivers, it perches in the current and fans food from the water with feathery front limbs. Gentle and long-lived, it suits anyone with a mature, well-filtered community tank.
- Adult Size: Around 10–12 cm (4–5 in); up to 15 cm (6 in) in the wild
- Lifespan: 8–10 years
Origin
- Native to: West Africa, Senegal to Gabon
- Habitat: Fast, rocky rivers and mangrove root masses
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous filter feeder
- Preferred Foods: Powdered shrimp food, spirulina powder, baby brine shrimp, crushed flake, phytoplankton
- Feeding Habits: Dose fine food into the flow daily; never regular pellets
Tank Mates
- Best with: Small peaceful fish, dwarf shrimp, snails, other fan shrimp
- Avoid: Large cichlids, loaches, crayfish, puffers
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Completely peaceful and shy
- Territoriality: None; several share one tank
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Challenges: Needs current and fine food; sensitive to copper
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, moderately hard
- Temperature: 22–28°C (72–82°F)
- pH: 6.5–7.5
- Hardness: 6–20 dGH
- Flow: Moderate to strong
- Tank Size: Minimum 80 litres; mature tank with a directed powerhead
Final Notes
Buy only for an established tank: fan shrimp starve quietly if there is no suspended food, so aim a powerhead across rocks and feed powdered foods into the current. They hide for days after moulting and are very sensitive to copper medications. Breeding is impractical because larvae need brackish water. Given flow and patience, this armoured giant becomes a fascinating, decade-long tank resident.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.