Breeding Crystal Black Shrimp (Caridina cantonensis)

Breeding the black-and-white Crystal Black (CBS) bee shrimp, the soft-water counterpart of CRS: sexing, conditioning, an acidic low-TDS setup, berried females, shrimplet care and grading.

Overview

The Crystal Black Shrimp (CBS) is the black-and-white counterpart of the Crystal Red, a line of the bee shrimp Caridina cantonensis. The Shrimp Farm describes CBS care as identical to CRS, with the same soft, acidic, low-TDS requirements. It develops directly, with females releasing fully formed shrimplets and no larval stage, and shares the same sensitivity to unstable water.

Sexing

As in CRS, females are larger with a deeper abdomen for carrying eggs, while males stay slimmer and smaller. A mature female rounds out under the tail and may carry visible eggs. Adults are easiest to sex reliably.

Conditioning

Keep a mixed-sex colony on stable, soft acidic water and feed lightly with biofilm, algae and shrimp foods. As with CRS, the 24-25 C (75-77 F) band favours the strongest colour, and steady parameters matter more than heavy feeding for triggering spawns.

Breeding Setup

Minimum tank volume: 30 L for a stable colony
Temperature: 22-25 C (72-77 F)
pH: 5.8-6.8 (soft, acidic); GH 4-6 dGH; KH 0-2 dKH
Low TDS, roughly 100-180 (active soil substrate helps)
Sponge filter and dense moss for shrimplets
Very stable parameters; avoid swings

Spawning & Berried Females

With correct parameters CBS breed readily. The female carries the eggs beneath her abdomen; reported hatch time is roughly 28-30 days, consistent with the CRS figure of about 28 days at 22 C (72 F) given by Wikipedia. Avoid parameter swings while she is berried to prevent dropped eggs.

Shrimplet Care

Shrimplets emerge as miniature adults and graze biofilm from day one, so a mature, biofilm-rich tank with dense moss provides first food and refuge. Keep predatory fish out and let final grade clarify as the juveniles grow.

Common Challenges

CBS follow the same grading scale as CRS, from C up to SSS, judged by the extent and opacity of white. Because CBS and CRS are the same species, they interbreed and a mixed tank yields both red and black offspring depending on genetics. Caridina cantonensis does not interbreed with the separate genus Neocaridina davidi.