Crystal Red Shrimps are distinct and small-colored freshwater shrimps that are really famous among the aquarium enthusiasts. They have clear bodies with vibrant red stripes, resembling precious crystals, so they are called Crystal Red Shrimps. Crystal Red Shrimps are known for their peaceful nature and are easy to care for making them suitable for both beginners and experienced hobbyists. Crystal Red Shrimps make aquariums more colorful and fun to watch with their interesting behavior. With proper care and a well-maintained tank, Crystal Red Shrimps can thrive and become a delightful addition to your aquatic community.
In this post, you will learn the fundamentals of Crystal Red shrimps care. It covers water parameters, their diet, tank setup, size, breeding, and more
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Shrimp Story: Crystal Red Shrimp
The Crystal Red shrimps is a special type of small shrimp that people have bred on purpose. It is really popular among people who keep pet shrimp. These crystal red shrimps are not found naturally in the wild so that they are quite rare and very valuable.
Taking care of Crystal Red shrimp is not easy because they have been specially bred over many years. They are not as tough as other types of shrimp.
Scientists think that the Crystal Red shrimps started from a strange change in a type of black Bee shrimp. Even though they are similar to Bee shrimp, Crystal Red shrimps are their own special kind.
How Long Crystal Red Shrimp Live
Crystal Red shrimp usually live for about 18 months in a fish tank. They don’t stay alive for long in aquariums.
Note: They can live this long only if you take really good care of them. If the water in their tank is not clean enough, they might die sooner.
Appearance
The Crystal Red shrimps are amazing creatures that add lots of color to your tank, Its body shape is like other freshwater shrimps, with a strong tail, legs, and antennae.
But what really makes them stand out is their color.
These shrimps come in many different color patterns, but most have bright red and white shades. These colors can form stripes or other patterns.
There are so many patterns that these shrimp have a grading system based on how much white they have. More white means a higher grade, and they might be costly to buy and keep.
At the bottom, there are Grade C shrimp, mostly red with a bit of white. Grades A and S have more even stripes.
At the top, Grade SSS shrimp have the most white with just a few red spots or stripes.
Males and females look very alike. The only real way to tell them apart is by their size and abdomen. Females are bigger and have a wider tail to care for their babies.
Average Size
Adult Crystal Red shrimps are only 1 to 1.5 inches long, making them really small. They are known as dwarf shrimp because of their small size.
Note: Because they are so small, it is really difficult to tell a big one from a small one just by looking. That’s why it is important to know about their breeding when you are buying them. You can’t just judge their size with your eyes.
Crystal Red Shrimp Care
Taking care of Crystal Red shrimps is actually a big task. This might be surprising for many new owners, but there is a simple reason for it.
Because they have been specially bred over many years, Crystal Red shrimps are very sensitive to dirty water. So, you need to keep their environment very clean for them to be happy and healthy.
The most important thing is to understand what the shrimp need as you take care of them. This will help you know how to look after them properly.
Here are some important points you should follow:
Tank Size
You don’t need a big aquarium for Crystal Red shrimp. They are happy in small tanks, like nano-style ones.
You can keep a small group in a tank that’s only 5 gallons.
But it is good to keep them in a tank of at least 10 gallons. Bigger tanks are easier to keep stable and clean. And since Crystal Red shrimps are so sensitive, It is good to make things as easy as possible for them.
Crystal Red Shrimp Water Parameters
Even though Crystal Red shrimp are not found in the wild so many fishkeepers look to their ancestor for advice. The Bee shrimp live in cool streams in China and Vietnam. These streams are clean, with balanced water and low hardness.
It is really important to get their living conditions just right. Luckily, there is some flexibility.
The most important thing is to keep the tank clean from harmful substances like ammonia and nitrates. Crystal Red shrimp don’t make much waste, but other tank mates can pollute the water very quickly. You need to check the water regularly and change 30% of it every week to keep it clean. but remember 30% percent of water you need to change not more.
Here are the ideal water conditions for your shrimp:
- Water Temperature: Between 62°F to 78°F (it is best to keep it above 70 degrees)
- pH levels: Between 5.8 to 7.4
- Water Hardness: 0-4 kH
Setting Up The Rest Of Their Habitat
Crystal Red shrimps thrive in a setup that mimics a forest stream, with lots of plants around.
Plants are great because they give the shrimp food and a place to hide.
These shrimps are popular for aquascaping, which means setting up tanks to look like natural environments. They get along well with plants and eat any dead plant bits and algae.
Mix up the plants in your tank. Put tall ones at the back, medium ones in the middle, and lots of short ones to cover the ground. These shrimp don’t need a huge swimming area, so you can get creative with your tank design.
You don’t need a specific substrate or rocks, but soft sand is best for Crystal Red shrimp. They like hanging out at the bottom of the tank, so soft sand is comfy for them.
Note: Besides decorations, use a sponge filter for the tank. It is safer for the shrimps and any babies they might have. Also, let the tank cycle with biological filtration before adding shrimp.
The good news is that these shrimps don’t make a lot of mess. Any standard filter should work fine for the tank.
Common Possible Diseases
Crystal Red shrimp can get sick from various diseases and infections, besides being sensitive to ammonia.
Bacterial infections are a big problem and often happen because of dirty water. They can cause internal bleeding and swelling, making the shrimp really sick. The tricky thing is, that you might not notice these infections until it is too late.
Fungi can also make your shrimp sick. There are different types that can cover the shrimp’s body in a fuzzy white film.
Then there are parasites. One type, called parasitic nematodes, can grow inside the shrimp’s head! Once they are in, they can multiply and cause problems. Another parasite, called Vorticella, looks like fuzzy fungus.
Luckily, most of these diseases can be treated. But it is best to ask a vet which medicines to use. Avoid using medicines with copper, though, because it is bad for Crystal Red shrimps and other similar creatures.
Food & Diet
These small shrimps are like tiny cleaners in the tank. They eat almost anything they find like algae and small plants. They eat almost anything and are simple to feed.
Most of the time, they swim around and look for food. They are good at catching tiny bits of food floating in the water.
And Even though they find food in the tank, It is still important to feed them regularly. You can give them special shrimp food, which usually comes as powder or small pellets. And Algae wafers are also a good option.
If you want you can also give them cooked veggies like zucchini, broccoli, peas, lettuce, and cucumbers. They really like to eat them.
Behavior & Temperament
You don’t need to be concerned about fights with Crystal Red shrimps. They are really calm and friendly. They get along fine with other peaceful tank buddies, like other shrimps and even some types of fish.
These shrimp mostly stay at the bottom of the tank, so they don’t really care about what is happening higher up. They spend their time looking for food. You might see them wandering around on the tank floor, checking out plants, or hanging out with other shrimp.
Tank Mates
It can be tricky to find friends for these shrimp that will not try to eat them. Because they are small and brightly colored, big fish might see them as snacks. So that it is best to avoid any fish that could gobble them up. If you want to keep them with other small shrimp-like Bamboo or Amano shrimp, make sure they all like the same water conditions.
Many people prefer to keep Crystal Red shrimps by themselves. This avoids any problems with getting along with other tank mates, most especially if you are planning to breed them.
Crystal Red shrimps are perfectly happy on their own as long as there is a bunch of them together.
Note: People often wonder if Crystal Red shrimp and Cherry shrimp can live together. It is usually okay, but their babies might not look as pretty if they mate.
Breeding
Crystal Red shrimp are great because they are easy to make more of when you have them at home. Even though they don’t live for a long time, they often have babies without needing any help. This means you don’t have to keep buying new ones.
These shrimp like it best when it is around 78 degrees Fahrenheit if you want them to breed. If you feed them well, then the female shrimp will start carrying eggs pretty soon. She lets the male shrimp know she is ready to have babies by releasing special chemicals into the water.
The female shrimp lays eggs and carries them under her belly. She uses her little legs to keep the eggs moving and safe.
It takes about a month for the eggs to hatch. To make sure lots of baby shrimp survive, take out any big fish and put a special sponge in the filter. You can give the baby shrimp special powdered food to eat, but remember they will also learn to find food on their own soon enough.
The baby Crystal Red shrimp grow up fast. In just four or five weeks, they will be fully grown and ready to have babies of their own.
Wrapping Up
Taking care of Crystal Red shrimp might feel hard in the beginning, but once you learn the simple stuff, it gets much easier. If you know what you are doing and keep doing it, everything will go smoothly.
We really think you should try having these shrimp. They look so beautiful, and when you see them in a freshwater tank, it is really something special.
FAQs
Are Crystal Red shrimp Neocaridina?
No, Crystal Red shrimp belong to the Caridina genus, not Neocaridina.
How long do Crystal Red shrimp live for?
On average, Crystal Red shrimp live for about 1 to 2 years in a well-maintained aquarium.
Are Crystal Red shrimp easy to breed?
Yes, Crystal Red shrimp are relatively easy to breed in captivity, especially when provided with the right conditions.
What do Crystal Red shrimp eat?
Crystal Red shrimp are omnivores and feed on algae, plant detritus, microorganisms, and commercial shrimp food like pellets or algae wafers. They also enjoy blanched vegetables such as zucchini, broccoli, peas, lettuce, and cucumbers.
How to take care of Crystal Red shrimp?
Taking care of Crystal Red shrimp involves maintaining stable water parameters, providing hiding places and plants in the aquarium, and ensuring a varied diet.
Can Crystal Red shrimp live with Cherry shrimp?
Crystal Red shrimp can live with Cherry shrimp, but there is a possibility of interbreeding, resulting in less desirable offspring.
Why are my Crystal Red shrimp dying?
Crystal Red shrimp may die due to various reasons, including poor water quality, fluctuations in water parameters, stress, diseases, or inadequate nutrition.
How often do Crystal Red shrimp breed?
Crystal Red shrimp can breed frequently under suitable conditions, with females typically producing eggs every few weeks.
How do Crystal Red shrimp breed?
Crystal Red shrimp breed sexually, with females carrying eggs until they hatch into miniature versions of the adults.
How to grade Crystal Red shrimp?
Crystal Red shrimp are graded based on the intensity and pattern of their red and white coloration. The grading scale ranges from lower grades like C to higher grades like SSS.
How much are Crystal Red shrimp?
The price of Crystal Red shrimp can vary depending on factors such as grade, size, and availability, but they typically range from a few dollars to several dozen dollars per shrimp.
How long for Crystal Red shrimp to breed?
It takes approximately 1 to 2 months for Crystal Red shrimp eggs to hatch, depending on water conditions and temperature.
How many babies do Crystal Red shrimp have?
Crystal Red shrimp can have anywhere from a few dozen to over a hundred babies in a single brood, depending on various factors such as the female’s age and health.
How much do Red Crystal shrimp cost?
The cost of Red Crystal shrimp varies depending on factors like grade, size, and seller, but they generally range from a few dollars to several dozen dollars each.
How long do Crystal Red shrimp eggs take to hatch?
Crystal Red shrimp eggs typically hatch within 2 to 4 weeks, depending on water temperature and other environmental factors.