Breeding Carbon Rili Shrimp

Carbon Rili is a two-tone Neocaridina davidi morph that breeds readily in freshwater; females carry 20-30 eggs and hatch miniature adults, with rili patterning needing culling.

Overview

The Carbon Rili shrimp is a two-tone (rili) selectively bred color morph of Neocaridina davidi, with opaque black sections separated by a clear midsection. Like all Neocaridina, it breeds readily in freshwater and has no larval stage.

Sexing

Females are larger, have wider tails for carrying eggs, and show richer, more opaque coloration; the developing eggs may appear as a green or yellow saddle on the back. Males are smaller, slimmer, and less colorful. Aquarium Co-Op reports females reaching up to about 4 cm and males around 2.5-3 cm.

Breeding Conditions

• Temperature: about 22-24 °C is most comfortable for breeding
• pH: 6.5-8.5
• GH: at least 6 ° (around 110 ppm)
• KH: at least 2 ° (around 40 ppm)
• Breeding requires only a sexed pair, stable water parameters, and a food source

Eggs & Young

A berried female carries roughly 20-30 eggs affixed to her swimmerets (pleopods) and fans them to keep them oxygenated. Eggs hatch in about 2-3 weeks (gestation is roughly a month depending on temperature). Hatchlings are tiny copies of the adults, only about 1-2 mm long, with no free-swimming larval stage. Sexual maturity is reached at roughly two months of age.

Color Stability & Culling

Rili and other Neocaridina davidi patterns are maintained by selective breeding. Without culling, populations tend to degrade in appearance over time, so individuals with poor contrast or off-pattern are removed to keep the carbon rili look consistent.