Cardinal Shrimp care guide
Cardinal Shrimp (Caridina dennerli) — minimum tank 40 L, temperature 27-30 °C, pH 7.8-8.5.
Overview
Cardinal Shrimp (Caridina dennerli) is a freshwater dwarf shrimp of the family Atyidae, listed in the Aquairi knowledge base as an expert-level species. It is an endemic Sulawesi Caridina that requires hard, alkaline and warm water — the opposite of the soft-water cantonensis lines. Stunning red-and-white Sulawesi Caridina from Lake Matano. Requires hard, alkaline, warm water — opposite of cantonensis. Endemic and increasingly threatened in the wild.
Taxonomy
- Family: Atyidae
- Genus: Caridina
- Scientific name: Caridina dennerli
- Common synonyms: Sulawesi Cardinal, White-spotted Sulawesi Shrimp
Habitat
Endemic Sulawesi Caridina inhabit the ancient lakes Matano, Mahalona and Towuti on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. These tectonic lakes carry hard, alkaline, warm water — a chemistry unique among freshwater shrimp habitats — and the genus has radiated locally into many narrowly-distributed species. The Aquairi knowledge base records this entry from: Lake Matano, Sulawesi (Indonesia).
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 40 L (10.6 US gal)
- Adult size: 2-3 cm
- Temperature: 27-30 °C (81-86 °F)
- pH: 7.8-8.5
- GH: 6-8 °dGH
- KH: 4-8 °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: Other Sulawesi shrimp, Tylomelania snails. Should be kept away from: Most fish, Cantonensis shrimp, Neocaridina.
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. Sulawesi shrimp breed at a slower rate than cherry shrimp; small clutch sizes (typically 8-20 eggs) and slow juvenile development demand long-term stability.