Caridina sp.
The Cardinal Shrimp is new in late 2007 to the USA end of the hobby although there have been other attempts overseas to keep and breed these beautiful, but small shrimp. These shrimp are from Sulawesi and the lake these shrimp are from has also produced many other new species as well that breeders are trying to establish into the hobby.
| Temperature | 80 to 87 degrees F. |
| PH | 7.8 to 8.6 |
| Origin | wild from Sulawesi |
| Breeding info | Breed fairly easy, no larval stage |
| Food | algae, bio-film, regular fish food pellet and flake |
| Size | 1/2 inch to 1 inch |
| Difficulty | Very Difficult, water quality very important |
| Compatibility | Non-aggressive. Not known to cross breed with any other shrimp in the hobby |
The chart is a guideline only and these shrimp will be best kept at a PH of 8.2 to 8.4 as that is the PH they are accustomed to in my tanks. The Cardinal Shrimp has now bred for me and I now have a healthy colony of adults and young born in captivity. The young are growing very fast and grow as fast as most other shrimp now in the hobby. I think captive bred young shrimp may prove to be stronger during shipping as well.
Keeping these shrimp is pretty much the same as with any Dwarf Shrimp other than the higher water temps and PH. Feeding has not been an issue so far and they will eat the same foods as other dwarf shrimp and mine although shy at first will now group feed on pellets etc. The young born in my tanks rush to food now and were quick to adapt to aquarium life.
My Cardinal Shrimp are in a 20 gallon long tank set up with inert sand substrate, rocks, some crushed coral. I use 2 sponge filters only in this tank. There is some driftwood, Oak Leaves, and Moss in the tank as well there is more info on why I use leaves as well as moss in the article section. I have found these shrimp moderately easy to keep so far as long as water parameters are maintained and temps kept high.
UPDATE:On June 22nd 2008 after having these shrimp for just over 2 months I now have found 2 berried females in the tank. They do not carry very many eggs and are a little difficult to spot. I will update again as young are born and grow in my tank. I have already had young shrimp grow in this tank without issues so I expect the ones soon to be born will be fine. It is exciting news that this shrimp may be available as "captive bred" and perhaps the wild populations can be spared. Below is a photo of one of the berried females.
A of 8-11-2008 I now have several batches of new young in the tank and several more berried. This is good news and the colony is very healthy and doing better than I had hoped. It is really starting to look like I may actually have some available sooner than first thought as long as all continues on it's present course.
My Cardinal Shrimp are tank raised by me and kept in excellent health and I just may have some available for purchase one of these days if they do in fact breed for me. I prefer to sell only juvenile shrimp from 1/4 to 1/2 inch long because they ship and adapt to your tanks parameters better and live a longer life than if you are sent adults that you have no clue as to age. But these shrimp are very hard to ship and there are reports of very high DOA rates. Please check my AZ Inverts Store for availability
