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Quick Info
English name: Purple Zebra Shrimp
Scientific name:
Potamalpheops sp.
Origin: Asia
Size male/female: .25/ .25 in
Water temperature: 73 - 82 °F
Water Parameters: pH 6.5 - 7.5
Breeding Rate: currently unable to reproduce in captivity
Behaviour: non-agressive
Difficulty: easy
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Purple Zebra Shrimp | Potamalpheops sp.
A Purple Zebra Shrimp Eating a Wafer
Information by wood:
The Purple Zebra Shrimp is a very cool looking shrimp but unfortunately it is really not a viable shrimp to keep in captivity. There are several reasons why this is not a good shrimp to keep as a hobbyist. First of all the Purple Zebra Shrimp has not been captive bred by anyone to date. All specimens for sale online or in stores are wild-caught. The adults I received are very hardy and are still alive after almost a year from being caught in the wild.
The Purple Zebra Shrimp start as tiny larvae floating in the water. The female carries many bright green eggs for approximately 3 weeks and then hatch into tiny larvae. A week after the eggs hatched into larvae, the larvae vanish and there is no sign of any baby shrimp. It is unknown whether they die of starvation or a lack of brackish water. See below for photos of larvae
I have witnessed in person the larvae floating in the tank many times. They are extremely small and slender. They look like little glass slivers floating in the water. It is actually a really cool sight. Unfortunately after about a week the larvae are no where to be found. I have checked the moss and substrate many times to no avail. I have had many larvae at different times with the same result each time: no offspring.
The Purple Zebra Shrimp is also a very small shrimp. Adults are a maximum of just over 1/4" and sex can be distinguished by either a green saddle or green eggs on the female. It seems that this shrimp reproduces like clockwork. Females either have a saddle or eggs at all times. This was my experience however, some have stated rapid deaths occured shortly after introduction into their aquariums.
It is unfortunate that this shrimp is not viable for the shrimp hobby. The Purple Zebra Shrimp is a very cool looking shrimp. If anyone selling this shrimp tries to say that they are captive bred I would say 99% of the time they are not telling the truth.
Female Purple Zebra Shrimp have a green Saddle
Purple Zebra Shrimp Larvae front shot
Purple Zebra Shrimp Larvae side shot
Another photo of the Purple Zebra Shrimp