🪸 How to properly keep Caridina shrimp – water parameters, breeding & special features

🌿 Challenging, but fascinatingly beautiful

Caridina shrimp are the "king of dwarf shrimp." 🦐✨ They are known for their intense colors, unique patterns, and more delicate needs , which makes them especially popular with enthusiasts and experienced aquarists.
Those who are willing to cater to their specific needs will be rewarded with fascinating behavior, exciting breeding, and extraordinary diversity.

🐠 What are Caridina shrimp?

Caridina is a genus of freshwater shrimp from Asia, which includes some of the most popular, colorful, and sought-after invertebrates in aquariums. 🪸 They are characterized by extraordinary color variations, interesting patterns, and fascinating behavior – perfect for anyone who wants to make their aquarium a real eye-catcher.

Popular examples of this type include:

  • ❄️ Snow White Bee Prawn ( Caridina logemanni ) – elegant, snow-white variety with fine markings

  • 🔴 Red Taiwan Bee Shrimp ( Caridina cantonensis ) – intense red coloration and high popularity in breeding

  • ⚫ Black Taiwan Bee shrimp ( Caridina cantonensis ) – deep black with contrasting patterns

  • 🔵 Royal Blue Tiger OE Prawn ( Caridina cantonensis ) – striking, metallic blue tiger pattern

  • 🟠 Orange Tiger OE Prawn ( Caridina serrata ) – bright orange and very active

  • 🐝 Bumble Bee Shrimp ( Caridina sp. ) – small, with contrasting stripes and extremely lively

  • 🟡 Yellow King Kong Shrimp ( Caridina serrata ) – rare color morph with vibrant yellow

  • 🪸 Blue Taiwan Bee Shrimp ( Caridina logemanni ) – popular for its intense blue coloration

  • 🐯 Tiger OE Shrimp ( Caridina cantonensis ) – classic tiger pattern and robust to keep

💡 Many of these Caridina species are particularly popular with enthusiasts, as they are characterized by an enormous variety of colors, individual requirements and exciting breeding projects.

🧪 Water quality – precision is crucial

Unlike Neocaridinas, Caridinas require very stable and soft water parameters to remain healthy and reproduce. Tap water is often unsuitable – many keepers rely on reverse osmosis water with targeted remineralization .

parameter Optimal value
temperature 20–23 °C
PH value 5.8–6.8
GH (Total Hardness) 4–6 °dGH
KH (carbonate hardness) 0–2 °dKH
Conductivity 150–250 µS

💡 Tip: Stable water parameters are essential. Sudden fluctuations can severely stress or even kill Caridina shrimp.

🪣 Interior design & living space – natural retreats

Caridina fish thrive in well-structured, calm aquariums with plenty of hiding places and stable conditions. Especially important:

  • 🍀 Finely structured plants – young shrimp find shelter

  • 🪵 Roots & stones – promote biofilm and microorganisms

  • 🌿 Mosses – habitat, food source and refuge all in one

👉 In our shop you will find accessories, plants and care products that are ideal for Caridina aquariums.

🪱 Nutrition – natural food preferred

Caridinas are gourmets and feed primarily on:

  • 🌿 Growth, biofilm and microorganisms

  • 🍂 Autumn leaves (e.g., sea almond leaves, walnut leaves)

  • 🍤 Special shrimp food with a high plant content

  • 🪵 Protein intake 1-2 times per week (e.g. Artemia or special shrimp protein)

💡 Tip: A balanced diet not only promotes health, but also the willingness to reproduce.

🐣 Breeding – demanding, but rewarding

Breeding Caridina shrimp requires patience and stable water parameters. After mating, the female carries 20–40 eggs under her abdomen, which hatch into tiny baby shrimp after about 4 weeks .

The young are more sensitive than those of Neocaridinas and need:

  • 🌿 Fine plant structures and mosses

  • 🪱 Biofilm and microorganisms as primary food sources

  • 💧 Stable water parameters without fluctuations

👉 Tip: A separate rearing box can significantly increase the survival rate.

🧪 Care & tips for healthy Caridinas

  • 🔄 Change 10–20% of the water weekly – slowly and according to temperature.

  • 🧪 Measure values ​​regularly – especially conductivity and pH

  • 🍃 Remove leftover food – avoid spikes in pollutants

  • 🪵 Use leaves and natural materials – promote microfauna

👉 In our shop you will find hardening salts, food, leaves and care products that are perfectly suited to Caridina shrimp.

✅ Conclusion: For enthusiasts and perfectionists

Caridina shrimp are fascinating invertebrates for anyone who wants more than just hardy beginner species. 🪸 With patience, care, and the right water chemistry, you can experience their full splendor of colors and enjoy successful breeding.

👉 Discover everything you need for successful keeping in our shop – from food and hardening salts to natural care products .

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