Bumblebee Shrimp Breeding Guide
Breeding wild-type Bumblebee Caridina cantonensis, ancestor of all bee and Crystal lines: soft acidic water, sexing, berried females and direct-developing shrimplets, hardier than selected morphs.
Overview
The Bumblebee is a wild-type Caridina cantonensis with black-and-white banding and is the ancestor of the bee, Crystal and Taiwan Bee lines. The Shrimp Farm notes the wild Caridina cantonensis is found in southern China (Guangdong), Hong Kong, Taiwan and possibly northern Vietnam. As a direct developer, its eggs hatch into miniature adults.
Being closer to the wild form, it is generally hardier than the heavily selected colour morphs derived from it.
Sexing
Females are larger than males and carry a deeper abdomen. Wikipedia describes females releasing pheromones to signal readiness, with males then swimming vigorously around the tank to find them.
Conditioning
Keep a stable, mature tank with soft, slightly acidic water close to the shrimp's native stream conditions. Wikipedia notes the species does best in soft water matching its native pH, and develops strongest colour at about 24-25 °C (75-77 °F).
- Soft, slightly acidic water with gentle filtration
- Mature surfaces with biofilm and algae for grazing
- Light daily feeding of prepared shrimp food
Breeding Setup
Wild-type Bumblebee tolerates a slightly wider range than the selected lines. Wikipedia gives a working temperature of 21-26 °C (70-78 °F) for the species; soft water remains important. A single-species tank avoids cross-breeding with other Caridina cantonensis morphs, which interbreed freely.
Spawning & Berried Females
After mating the female carries eggs under her abdomen, circulating water over them with her pleopods. Wikipedia reports hatching in about 28 days at roughly 22 °C, with warmer water giving earlier maturity but smaller adults.
Shrimplet/Larval Care
Eggs hatch directly into tiny copies of the adults, which are independent at once and graze on biofilm. No larval rearing or salinity stage is needed — a mature tank with abundant biofilm carries them through.
Common Challenges
Although hardier than the colour morphs, the Bumblebee still suffers from high temperatures, which Wikipedia links to reduced egg survival and higher mortality. Stable soft water and avoiding aggressive tankmates such as crayfish and cichlids are the main concerns.