Bumblebee Shrimp care guide
Bumblebee Shrimp (Caridina cantonensis (wild form)) — minimum tank 30 L, temperature 20-26 °C, pH 6.2-7.5.
Overview
Bumblebee Shrimp (Caridina cantonensis (wild form)) is a freshwater dwarf shrimp of the family Atyidae, listed in the Aquairi knowledge base as an intermediate-level species. Wild-type Caridina cantonensis with black-and-white bands. Origin of all Bee/CRS lines. Hardier than selectively-bred lines.
Taxonomy
- Family: Atyidae
- Genus: Caridina
- Scientific name: Caridina cantonensis (wild form)
- Common synonyms: Bumblebee Bee, Wild Bee
Habitat
Caridina cantonensis is native to montane streams of southern China and Hong Kong, where it occupies soft, slightly acidic, well-oxygenated water above shaded leaf litter. The wild-type Bumblebee pattern was the foundation for the entire bee-shrimp selective breeding programme that began in Japan in the 1990s. The Aquairi knowledge base records this entry from: Hong Kong, Southern China.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 30 L (7.9 US gal)
- Adult size: 2-3 cm
- Temperature: 20-26 °C (68-79 °F)
- pH: 6.2-7.5
- GH: 4-8 °dGH
- KH: 1-4 °dKH
- Lifespan: 1-2 years
Diet
A grazing detritivore. In the aquarium the shrimp continuously feeds on biofilm, soft algae, decaying plant matter and dropped food. A small daily ration of a shrimp-formulated sinking pellet, occasional blanched spinach or zucchini and rare protein wafers keep the colony in good condition without polluting the water.
Compatibility
Peaceful and best kept in a colony of ten or more in a stable, well-cycled, planted aquarium. Suitable tank mates listed in the Aquairi knowledge base: Otocinclus, Pygmy Cory. Should be kept away from: Crayfish, Cichlids.
Breeding
Reproduces in fresh water without a planktonic larval stage. Mature females develop ripe ovaries visible as a yellow or olive "saddle" on the back; after a successful moult they are fertilised by males and carry the fertilised eggs under the pleopods for roughly three to four weeks before juveniles hatch as miniature fully-formed shrimp. Stable parameters and absence of predation are the main success factors.