EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CARIDINA SHRIMP
Caridina shrimp are more sensitive and specialised than their Neocaridina cousins. They include iconic species such as Crystal Red, Crystal Black, and Taiwan Bees. These shrimp originate from soft, acidic water environments, typically mountainous regions and forest streams in Asia, particularly southern China and Taiwan. They’re prized for their crazy colours, unique patterns and wide selection. Whilst they are harder to keep than neos, it’s not as complicated as people make it out to be. So long as you follow some basic steps!
Interesting Facts
Caridina shrimp often require remineralised RO (reverse osmosis) water to survive and breed effectively.
They go through a larval-like stage immediately after hatching, which is more sensitive to water conditions than juvenile Neocaridina.
Some morphs, like Blue Bolts or King Kongs, are valued at significantly higher prices depending on clarity and depth of colouration.
Their fragile exoskeletons make them highly vulnerable to copper and sudden water changes.
High-end breeders in Asia have created stunning new colour lines such as Shadow Pandas, Wine Reds, and Fancy Tigers.
Water Parameters
Caridina require soft, acidic, and mineral-balanced water to thrive:
Temperature: 20–24°C (68–75°F)
PH: 5.5–6.5 (lower PH helps prevent bacterial infections)
GH (General Hardness): 4–6 GH
KH (Carbonate Hardness): 0–1 KH (very low)
TDS: 90–130 ppm
Ammonia/Nitrites: 0 ppm
Nitrates: <10 ppm (preferably <5)
Use RO/DI water with shrimp-specific remineralizers such as Salty Shrimp GH+ for better control. Avoid tap water unless it’s extremely soft and stable.
Tank Requirements
Tank Size: Minimum 10 gallons (more water volume = more stability)
Substrate: Active buffering soil (e.g., ADA Amazonia, Brightwell, SL-Aqua) to maintain low ph
Plants: Low-ph tolerant plants such as mosses, Bucephalandra, Anubias
Filtration: Sponge filters or gentle HOB/canister with pre-filter sponge
Lighting: Low to moderate; stability is more important than brightness
Cover: Provide hiding spots using leaf litter, moss, shrimp tubes, or cholla wood
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Diet
Caridina shrimp benefit from high-quality, low-protein, plant-based diets.
Staple: Shrimp-specific foods like GlasGarten, SL-Aqua, Shrimp King (Mineral, Complete)
Natural Food: Biofilm is crucial encourage it with almond leaves, driftwood, and moss
Supplemental: Blanched vegetables, snowflake food, botanicals (e.g., guava or mulberry leaves)
Protein (sparingly): Bloodworms, shrimp lollies once a week
Overfeeding is a major threat—feed small amounts every other day and remove uneaten food.
Breeding Caridina Shrimp (Detailed)
Breeding Caridina is more challenging due to their water sensitivity and egg-to-larva transition.
Breeding Age: 3–5 months
Egg Development: 28–35 days, depending on temperature
Berried Females: Carry 20–30 eggs under their pleopods
Survival Needs: Absolutely clean water, strong biofilm presence, and stable parameters are key
Hatchlings: Smaller and more delicate than Neocaridina; require very calm tanks with dense cover
Tips:
Keep a male-to-female ratio of about 1:2 (Though it doesn’t really matter once you have a colony going)
Use Indian almond leaves for mild antibacterial protection
Use powdered foods like Bacter AE to support microfauna and biofilm development
Perform weekly small water changes (10–15%) with matched parameters
Popular Colour Morphs
Caridina shrimp lines are complex and carefully bred for patterns, contrast, and saturation.
Crystal Red Shrimp (CRS): Classic red and white banded shrimp, with higher grades showing more white coverage and cleaner lines
Crystal Black Shrimp (CBS): Same pattern as CRS but in black; high-grade individuals have solid black areas with no transparency
Taiwan Bee Shrimp:
Blue Bolt: Gradient blue bodies with white or light blue heads
King Kong: Deep black, often with white tail bands or full black
Panda: Black-and-white colouration with panda-like banding
Red Wine / Wine Red: Red variant of King Kong with deep, saturated hues
Shadow Panda: Panda pattern with a blue or purplish sheen
Fancy Tigers: Cross between Tiger and Taiwan Bees, often with vivid red or orange striping over white backgrounds
Culling and Colour Grading
Culling is critical in maintaining high-quality Caridina lines.
Grading Traits: Focus on pattern clarity, colour saturation, shell thickness, and symmetry
High-grade examples: Often labelled SS, SSS, or higher, depending on how much white or black coverage is present
Culling Strategy:
Remove shrimp with washed-out colours, broken patterns, or deformities
Place culls in separate tanks or gift hem to hobbyists not focused on line breeding
Line Isolation: Don’t mix different Taiwan Bee or Fancy lines unless you’re intentionally working on a project; hybrid offspring can have unstable traits
Community Tanks: Use only low-grade or mixed shrimp here, never high-grade breeders
Top breeders maintain extremely strict culling practices—sometimes removing more than 50% of a generation to keep lines clean.
Tankmates
Due to their sensitivity, Caridina should be kept with only the safest companions.
Safe Options: Nerite snails, small Caridina of the same water needs, peaceful nano species (caution advised)
Unsafe: A large variety of fish species. Even some nano species can be problematic.
Common Issues & Troubleshooting
Molting Problems: Often due to improper GH or trace mineral imbalance
Bacterial Infections: More common at high temps; Indian almond leaves help as a preventative
PH Creep: Avoid using substrates or rocks that raise PH monitor with regular testing
Colour Fading: Usually caused by stress, inbreeding, or dietary deficiencies
Failed Molts: Avoid handling or moving shrimp during molting windows
Tips for Success
Use TDS meter to match water during top-offs and water changes
Remineralise all RO water for consistency
Allow the tank to mature for at least 4–6 weeks before introducing shrimp
Monitor KH closely—many breeders keep it near zero
Keep light and flow gentle to avoid stressing juveniles