Ōpae ula shrimp as pets

Ōpae ula shrimp are tiny brackish-water shrimp from Hawaii that people keep in small jars or nano tanks because they’re extremely hardy and low maintenance. They’re also called volcano shrimp, lava shrimp, or their scientific name, Halocaridina rubra, and they’re known for being slow-growing, long-lived, and basically unfazed by most beginner mistakes.

Volcano shrimp mini jars

We first saw them in person at the Goshen Reptile Expo, where a seller named Andrea Foxx had a full display with different jar sizes and set-ups. Her table was put together in a way that made you want to stop and look without feeling pressured to buy anything. You could pick up the jars, look at the tiny shrimp, and just explore. We had never seen these before, so it was surprisingly fun to stand there and watch how small they are. We ended up buying one of the smaller jars she had pre-made.

One year later, this is what the jar looks like: the shrimp are alive and fine, there’s some algae growth, and the whole thing has basically taken care of itself. You can clean the sides of the jar if you want it clearer again, but the actual “care” part is extremely minimal. That’s been the interesting part, just how stable they are even for total beginners.

What are Opae Ula shrimp? (Halocaridina rubra)

Opae ula shrimp are native to anchialine pools in Hawaii, which are pockets of water fed by a mix of freshwater and saltwater. These pools are stable, low-nutrient environments, so the shrimp evolved to be slow metabolism, low waste, and extremely tolerant of different conditions.They change color based on mood, age, light, and food availability.

When relaxed or well-fed, they get a deeper red. They can live 15–20 years and breed slowly, which is why people treat them more like a long-term ecosystem project instead of a typical aquarium pet.

They are not the same as cherry shrimp or other freshwater species. They’re brackish and need a very specific salinity range, but once it’s set, it barely needs adjusting.

Opae Ula care basics (for beginners and small jars)

If you’re keeping them in a small ecosystem jar like the ones at Andrea’s table, the main things you need are:

• brackish water (around 1.008–1.018 SG)

• lava rock

• crushed coral or aragonite sand

• a little natural light

• patience for the algae to build their food source

They don’t need filters, heaters, or constant feeding. A tiny amount of spirulina every few weeks is enough, and algae usually does the heavy lifting. Too much food is worse than too little.

Excess algae maintenance

This isn't a problem, but if your jar grows algae faster than you'd like, and you can't see clearly, you can clean it by wiping the inside of the container. After a year with almost no intervention, our jar has algae on the sides and the rocks, but the shrimp are healthy and still moving around.

Opae Ula shrimp for sale in Indiana

At the Goshen Reptile Expo, Andrea Foxx sells Opae ula shrimp in pre-made jars. Some with larger decorative set-ups and some with small starter jars. Her display is easy to understand even if you’ve never heard of these shrimp before. Everything was clearly labeled, and she had different bundle prices, spirulina powder, and little ecosystem jars ready to go.

A lot of people stopped at her table because it stood out and the jars looked interesting. Kids and adults kept picking them up to look closely at the shrimp, which tells you how approachable the whole set-up is. It’s a nice “first tiny pet” experience because there’s no intimidation factor.

One year later: our jar update

The small jar we bought last year is still running with almost no maintenance. There’s algae growth, which is normal and expected, and the shrimp are very easy to see once you clean the sides of the container. If you like the look of a clear jar, you’ll probably want to wipe the sides every month or two. If you don’t care, you can just let the algae build up because the shrimp eat it.

The rocks, sand, and salinity have never been changed. We’ve only topped off evaporated water with fresh water. These shrimp really do behave like slow, self-sustaining ecosystems.

Why Opae Ula tanks and jars are so popular

They’re appealing because they are:

• quiet

• tiny

• low maintenance

• long-lived

• interesting to watch

• hard to accidentally kill

People keep them on desks, in classrooms, or in kitchens because they don’t need equipment. They also don’t smell, which is part of why they’re starting to show up on search engines for tiny ecosystems and “Opae Ula shrimp tank” ideas.

More help from the seller

If you want detailed care instructions directly from the person we bought ours from, here’s her guide and social links:

Full care guide: https://linktr.ee/foxxae

Instagram with updates and photos: https://www.instagram.com/opae_ula_shrimp/