When most people think of Thai giant shrimp, they probably think of the large edible giant shrimp (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), also known as the blue lobster. This species is so popular that it can be eaten at most restaurants in Thailand. Many of our readers may have eaten this when they traveled to Thailand.
However, this time I would like to focus on the small species of long-eared shrimp that are often seen when collecting fish in rivers in Thailand, rather than the long-eared shrimp.

There are many small species of long-eared shrimp that can be commonly seen in rivers in Thailand. It is unclear why, but small, large egg-shaped species are more common.
Most of the shrimp in Japan are small egg-shaped, and after hatching, the larvae descend to the sea, undergo metamorphosis, and then go back up the river to begin life in fresh water. On the other hand, the Thai long-eared shrimp lays relatively large eggs, hatches at a fully developed stage, and then begins life in freshwater.

The giant shrimp introduced at the beginning of the article is a small egg-shaped type of shrimp, which is rare among Thai shrimp. In Thailand, small egg-shaped species seem to live in brackish waters from downstream of rivers.

Shokitatenagaebi, the only large egg-shaped long-tailed shrimp in Japan, lives in the uppermost reaches of the Urauchi River on Iriomote Island.
In Japan, large egg-shaped shrimps also live in the upper reaches of rivers in Okinawa, and they have adapted to their habitat. Unlike the Japanese species, Thailand's large egg-shaped long-tailed shrimp live not only in the upper reaches of rivers, but also quite downstream. They seem to have a different ecology than those from Japan.
When we collect fish in Thailand, we rarely collect fish from major rivers such as the Chao Phraya River or the Mekong River. It is difficult to collect fish in such places without a large net such as those used by fishermen, and they are not suitable for collecting small fish. Therefore, they are often collected from relatively small rivers and streams.

In such places, shrimps always end up in the net along with the fish. I've always been a freshwater shrimp fanatic, so I check not only fish but also shrimp when they come into my net. However, shrimp and crabs are often harmful to important fish prey, so if collecting them is not the purpose, they are often just checked and released.
Many small species with male pincer legs covered with fine hairs are found in the mountain streams of Thailand.
In many cases, the left and right scissor legs are different in size and shape. Many of them have large, well-developed scissor legs, so they look like boxer's gloves and are called boxer shrimp. Although there are many similar types, there are differences in the shape of the scissor legs and the shape of the forehead horn, so it is best to pay attention to these and distinguish them.

Because these long-eared shrimps are large egg-shaped, they do not move around much in small rivers, and small shrimps live in the same places as their parents. However, in large rivers like the Mekong River, it is said that at certain times, small shrimp can be seen swimming upstream in swarms, perhaps because the hatched shrimp are washed downstream.
In Thailand, the event is sometimes broadcast on TV at that time. After hearing such information, I have been wanting to capture the scene on camera for many years, but I have not yet had the opportunity to do so.
These shrimp, which are migrating upstream, choose places near the banks of large rivers where the current is slow. Along the way, river fishermen are waiting to catch the shrimp for food. Shrimp is a delicacy everywhere. The shrimp collected in this way can be eaten in a variety of ways.
Sometimes it is delicious when it is fried into round rice crackers. You can eat it at restaurants along the banks of the Mekong River. It's so crispy and delicious that I always want to eat it with soy sauce or noodle soup instead of Thai seasonings. Even if such large quantities are caught for food, there does not seem to be any problem with the stock amount. I am once again impressed by the depth of the power of nature.

As pets, long-eared shrimps do not seem to be very popular, as they often play tricks on fish, unlike white shrimps. However, we recommend these small long-tailed shrimps, which can be bred in an aquarium and kept in a small aquarium. If you have a chance to see them in a shop, please raise them in pairs. You will be able to see a different charm than fish.