Snowball Shrimp Breeding Guide

Snowball Shrimp (Neocaridina zhangjiajiensis) is a freshwater dwarf shrimp whose berried females carry bright white eggs that hatch directly into miniature shrimp.

Overview

The Snowball Shrimp, also called white pearl shrimp, is a selectively bred white variant of the pearl shrimp Neocaridina zhangjiajiensis (Cai, 1996), a freshwater dwarf shrimp of the family Atyidae. Full-grown shrimp reach about 2.5-3.2 cm. The name refers to the female's bright white eggs, which resemble tiny snowballs when she is berried.

Telling Males from Females

As in other Neocaridina, females are larger and carry developing eggs visibly as a "saddle" on the back, while males are smaller and more slender. White individuals show their developing white egg mass especially clearly through the translucent body.

Breeding Conditions

Snowball Shrimp are easy to breed in freshwater and reproduce readily around the clock once a mixed-sex group is present. Reported parameters are temperature 15-30 C (59-86 F) with optimal comfort around 22-23 C (72-73 F) and pH 6.5-8.0. They reach sexual maturity at about 2-3 months of age.

Eggs & Young

Berried females carry their distinctive white eggs until hatching, with a gestation period of roughly 30-45 days including incubation. A few days before hatching the developing shrimplets' eyes become visible through the translucent egg shells. As with all Neocaridina, there is no free-swimming larval stage: the young emerge as miniature versions of the adults.