Bee Shrimp Information on this black colored variation of the common Crystal Red Shrimp.
African Filter ShrimpInformation on this large filter feeding shrimp from Africa.
Amano ShrimpInformation on this very popular shrimp. Its name comes from Takashi Amano, the creator of ADA, who used these shrimp for algae eating purposes. It cannot breed in pure freshwater.
Bamboo ShrimpInformation on this wild caught species which is a filter feeder. It is very common to find in most pet stores and online. It is not possible to breed this species in pure freshwater.
Black Tiger ShrimpInformation on this elusive all black color variation of the common Tiger Shrimp. Its all black coloration is from selective breeding to widen the black stripes of the common Tiger Shrimp.
Blue Bee ShrimpInformation on this newly introduced species to the hobby. Not much is known and they are caught in the wild. Captive breeding is possible.
Blue Pearl ShrimpInformation on this beautiful blue colored species of the wild N. zhangjiajiensis shrimp.
Blue Tiger ShrimpInformation on this blue coloration variation on the common Tiger Shrimp. It is expensive and sometimes hard to find.
Cardinal ShrimpInformation on the very popular shrimp from Sulawesi Indonesia. Its colors are awesome.
Crystal Red ShrimpInformation on this extremely popular, difficult, expensive, and complex shrimp species. Selectively bred for coloration and other features.
Dark Green ShrimpInformation on this beautiful dark green colored shrimp. Its eggs are a nice lime green which really make this shrimp stand out. Its true scientic name and genus are in question.
Ghost-Glass-Grass ShrimpInformation on this wild caught and extremely cheap freshwater shrimp. It carries many different names and can be found in most pet stores. It is considered a feeder shrimp for freshwater aquarium fish.
Golden Bee ShrimpInformation on this all white relative of the Crystal Red Shrimp, Bee Shrimp, Orange Bee Shrimp and others. It is nicely colored but little is known as to its origin.
Harlequin ShrimpInformation on this specific species of shrimp found in Sulawesi Indonesia.
Malaya ShrimpInformation on this newly introduced and soon to be common species of shrimp.
Neocaridina Heteropoda ShrimpInformation on this wild caught grandfather of the selectively bred species Red Cherry Shrimp and Yellow Shrimp. There may be other selectively bred color variations unknown to the hobby at the moment.
Orange Bee ShrimpInformation on this wild species and the grandfather of the Crystal Red Shrimp, Bee Shrimp and others. Can be rare and hard to find.
Purple Zebra ShrimpInformation on this wild caught species. Unfortunately it cannot breed in pure freshwater and has slowly disappeared from the hobby as a result.
Red Cherry ShrimpInformation on the most common and most popular shrimp in the hobby. This is the ultimate beginners shrimp and most hobbyists begin with this species before venturing into more difficult/expensive shrimp.
Red Tiger ShrimpInformation on this red color variation of the common Tiger Shrimp. This color variation is apparently found in the wild and not selectively bred.
Red Tupfel ShrimpInformation on this very rare and almost impossible to find shrimp in the hobby. Hopefully it will someday become more available.
Snowball ShrimpInformation on this beautiful all white selectively bred shrimp. Its name comes from its eggs which are all white resembling snowballs.
Sulawesi ShrimpA gallery of photos of many different kinds of Sulawesi Shrimp from Indonesia. Newly introduced to the hobby in late 2007.
Tiger ShrimpInformation on this somewhat common shrimp. It is the less rare variation than its cousins: Blue Tiger, Red Tiger, Golden Eye and others.
White Bee ShrimpInformation on this elusive and very rare species of Bee Shrimp. It is definitely a cool looking shrimp.
Yellow ShrimpInformation on this selectively bred shrimp from the wild N. Heteropoda species. It breeds very well.
"Cambarellus montezumae" CrayfishInformation on care and breeding of this crayfish species.
"Cambarellus patzcuarensis" CrayfishInformation on care and breeding of this crayfish species.
"Procambarus acanthophorus" CrayfishInformation on care and breeding of this crayfish species.
"Procambarus allenii" CrayfishInformation on care and breeding of this commonly blue colored crayfish species.
"Procambarus clarkii" CrayfishInformation on care and breeding of this popular crayfish species which comes in several different colors.
"Procambarus cubensis" CrayfishInformation on care and breeding of this crayfish species.
"Procambarus enoplosternum" CrayfishInformation on care and breeding of this crayfish species.
"Procambarus sp. marble" CrayfishInformation on care and breeding of this crayfish species.
"Procambarus pubescens" CrayfishInformation on care and breeding of this crayfish species.
"Procambarus spiculifer" CrayfishInformation on care and breeding of this crayfish species.
"Procambarus toltecae" CrayfishInformation on care and breeding of this crayfish species.
"Procambarus vasquezae" CrayfishInformation on care and breeding of this crayfish species.
"Procambarus versutus" CrayfishInformation on care and breeding of this very cool colored species of crayfish.
Apple SnailInformation of the most common snail found in pet stores, the Apple Snail. Are they good or bad for a shrimp tank?
Malaysian Trumpet SnailInformation on the common Malaysian Trumpet Snail. They are great for all aquariums given several reasons.
Zebra Nerite SnailInformation on the beautiful Zebra Nerite Snail.
Pond SnailInformation on the common pond snail. They are not bad snails and are in fact good for any kind of tank especially shrimp-only tanks.
Ramshorn SnailInformation on the Ramshorn Snail including the different color variations and population control.
Sulawesi SnailsPhotos of the various species of Sulawesi Snails. There are more species than are pictured as well.
Aegla sp. argentina Species Info on care and breeding of this non-crab, non-shrimp creature.
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Acclimating New Shrimp: Information on how to properly acclimate your newly arrived shrimp to your tank.
Are Hydra Harmful to Shrimp? Information on the unwelcomed Hydra in the freshwater aquarium including ways to prevent and remove them.
N. zhangjiajiensis: It's colors Information on this wild species and the many selectively bred color morphs that have evolved from it.
Packing a Winter Shipment Information on how to successfully pack shrimp for a wintertime shipment. Keeping the shrimp warm is very important.
Red Cherry Shrimp Hatching A rare photographic glimpse of a baby Red Cherry Shrimp hatching from an egg.
Information on the N. Palmata The orange coloration is actually the shrimp being infected with Acanthocepala.
Artificially Hatching Eggs Information on how to successfully hatch isolated eggs. Great method if you have a pregnant female die who has eggs.
Breeding Softwater Shrimp Information on how to successfully breed shrimp that require soft water. Tips and advice from user Kenshin.
Babaulti Shrimp: Mislabeled Information on how the Babaulti Shrimp variety is commonly mislabeled as different types of shrimp which vary in color. Good to know.
The Crystal Red Shrimp Grading Guide Information on grading the Crystal Red Shrimp. Includes information on how to identify specific features and what makes the grade.
Do-It-Yourself Shrimp Trap A how-to for making a homemade shrimp trap. Instead of chasing your shrimp with a net, let them do the work themselves.
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Are the shrimp naturally colored or dyed? An experiment conducted to see if imported shrimp are naturally colored or dyed by the supplier. Great article.
Safe Tankmates for Shrimp Information regarding what tankmates are safe for shrimp and what will definitely eat your shrimp. Very important.
Setting up a Shrimp Tank Information about setting up a new shrimp tank including details on exactly what should and shouldn't be used. Great info for beginners.
Shipping Inverts General information about shipping inverts. Proper packaging, insulation, heatpacks, etc. Great info for all hobbyists.
Shrimp and Leaf Litter Information about using leaf litter in a shrimp tank. Do shrimp do better with leaf litter? What leaves to use?
Shrimp Myths vs Truth What is true and what is false about shrimp keeping and everything related to the hobby. There are a lot of false statements out there so it is important to quell them.
Shrimp Rack Journals Two journals on setting up a shrimp rack for keeping multiple tanks using smaller space. Great tutorials with both journals by both Ryan and Pedro.
Sulawesi Expedition A Journal on the expedition conducted by Mimbon Aquarium from Germany. Photos and information about Sulawesi Indonesia as well as underwater photos of the habitat.
Water Change in the Winter Great information by Kenshin about changing the water during wintertime. You do not want very cold water to shock the shrimp. This is a great article for those in cold weather climates.
What is that bug in my tank? Information on the many creatures found inside a tank including planaria, hydra, and many others. Superb article by Satu in Finland.
Will these shrimp interbreed? Information about what shrimp are ok to house together in the same tank, and which ones will interbreed creating a hybrid. Great chart for easy comparision.
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If it isn't broke: Don't fix it An Editorial on why sometimes its best to let things stay the way they are.
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Red Goldflake ShrimpAnother one of the cool looking shrimp from Sulawesi.
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Horned Nerite SnailA beautifully colored nerite snail with unique appendages.
Tracked Nerite SnailA red-orange colored snail with "tracks" running along its body
Zebra Nerite SnailInformation on the beautifully striped Zebra Nerite Snail.
Ninja ShrimpInformation on this rapid multi-color changing "Ninja". Many colors including black, red, brown, and more.
Shrimp Reproduction An explanation of the reproduction cycle of a Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp.
Killing Planaria and Hydra Use Fenbendazole to kill Planaria and Hydra without harming your Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp.
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Golden Bee Shrimp | Caridina cantonensis sp. "Golden Bee"
Golden Bee Shrimp
Caridina cantonensis sp. "Golden Bee"
Overview
The Golden Bee Shrimp is quite an interesting shrimp. Some may call it a "Golden Crystal Red Shrimp," "Snow White Crystal Red Shrimp" or "All-White Crystal Red Shrimp", but I like to call it a Golden Bee Shrimp. It is a very nice shrimp to keep and very cool in person.
Background
As far as the actual history of this species, I haven't a clue. I wish I knew where they came from and who selectively bred them. I have a theory that this species was a selective bred hybrid between a nearly all white Crystal Red Shrimp and an Orange Bee Shrimp. I could be wrong, but that it is just my best guess. It is very interesting to me the orange color which is in the flesh and not in the shell. This is not a characteristic I have seen in any of my normal Crystal Red Shrimp. I have asked several well known breeders and they do not know its true origin either. It most likely came out of Japan.
Water Parameters
The Golden Bee Shrimp, just like the Crystal Red Shrimp, prefers soft acidic water. Clean water is also a must as with all shrimp in the hobby. Temperature should be lower than 80F and the pH should range from 6.2 to 6.8, gH should be between 4-6 and kH should be between 1-2. It is very important that the Golden Bee Shrimp be housed in specific conditions. Extremes in either water parameters mentioned should be avoided. Bad water parameters will easily show by the fading and/or disappearance of the white coloration.
Breeding
Breeding the Golden Bee Shrimp is just like breeding the Crystal Red Shrimp. The Golden Bee Shrimp can breed just as readily as most other Caridina species. This species will have brown colored eggs when pregnant. It will produce just as many offspring given that the water is clean and the parameters are suited for this species. It is reported that the Golden Bee Shrimp will interbreed with the Crystal Red Shrimp. Some breeders put both species together in the hopes of making the Crystal Red Shrimp breed a higher grade. For more information on the reproduction cycle of freshwater aquarium shrimp please read the article Shrimp Reproduction.
Pregnant Golden Bee Shrimp
The babies of the Golden Bee Shrimp are colored just like their parents immediate after hatching. You will immediately see the all-white coloration appear and as the baby grows the white will become more intense. Below is a photo of a baby Golden Bee Shrimp. Notice how the white coloration is not yet as intense as the adults.
Baby Golden Bee Shrimp
Sexing:
Sexing the Golden Bee Shrimp can be difficult at juvenile stage. Once females reach adulthood you can then tell the difference between sexes, or at least which are females. Females are easy to identify as they are larger and also have a curved underbelly. Look for size difference and more importantly the underbelly. The saddle of a female Golden Bee Shrimp may be virtually impossible to see due to the red coloration. You may however be able to see the saddle since it is a browning color and constrasts well with the all-white shrimp. In the above "Breeding" section is a photo of a pregnant Golden Bee Shrimp female. Notice the curved under belly. In the photo below notice how the underbelly is not curved. This is a sign that the shrimp could potentially be a male.
Male Golden Bee Shrimp
Feeding:
The Golden Bee Shrimp is not too different from other algae eating shrimps. It is a scavenger and an algae eater. Like its cousin, the Crystal Red Shrimp, the foods commonly used are pre-made Crystal Red Shrimp food, spinach, bloodworm, seaweed, and algae wafer. There are several different brands of Crystal Red Shrimp food as well as different sizes of the food and even powder food for young. Shirakura, Mosura, and Biomax are some of the more popular brands.
Feeding is best done once a day. Only feed an amount of food that the shrimp can finish within 2-3 hours maximum. It is not good to feed in excess and have food sitting for too long. Overfeeding is a known cause of death and can also cause water quality issues. Remember that shrimp are scavengers in the wild. They will eat whatever they find and are not used to a constant food source 24/7. Not feeding for one or two days is fine and will not harm this species at all. Sometimes I will not feed for a couple of days in order to let the shrimp cleanse their systems and keep the water clean at the same time.
Golden Bee Shrimp Eating with Crystal Red Shrimp
Coloration
Its coloration is very unique. It has a golden color in the flesh of the shrimp and the outside shell is white. The intensity of the white is like the Crystal Red Shrimp. Since there is no red coloration with the Golden Bee Shrimp the Crystal Red Shrimp Grading Guide does not apply obviously. If the shrimp is healthy and well established in its aquarium then the nice all-white coloration will be more intense. I took these photos one day after introducing them to my tank, therefore the white coloration is not near as solid as it is now. However, I did like the "popcorn" appearance they had at first. Once this species was well established and healthy, the white coloration really started to come back.
Grading
Some say that this species is actually "graded" based on the intensity of the white coloration. Some Golden Bee Shrimp do not have an all white intense coloration. The all pure white colored shrimp is considered the best grade/quality.