AT home aquarium not only a variety of fish can live, but also crustaceans, such as shrimp. This is quite unusual and the owner of such an aquarium will definitely surprise others. Do not think that this type of shrimp is similar to sea shrimp, this is not at all the case. Aquarium crustaceans look much more presentable, they have an unusual body color and shape. In addition, aquarium crustaceans incredibly hardy residents underwater world. They don't demand special attention and special care. Recently, beginners and experienced aquarists have acquired these creatures to diversify the underwater life of their home aquarium.

Habitat and description

In the natural environment, this underwater inhabitant is found in all world water bodies both salty and fresh. But these crustaceans have species that come from different parts of the world. For example, the red-nosed lives in the rivers of Venezuela, the fan lives in Panama, Amano only in Korea and Japan. Usually all representatives of this species are bred in Asia.

Aquarium shrimp belongs to the type of arthropods and species of crustaceans. An aquarium crustacean differs from a marine one in that the former has mandibles. With the help of them, the individual moves, and also grabs and holds food. In addition, these individuals have ten legs and a large, powerful tail, which helps to bounce in case of danger.

Thanks to its whiskers, the crustacean has an excellent sense of smell and touch. The eyes of the individual rotate in any direction, which helps to see everything around him and danger to have time to escape to a secluded place, and it also helps in the search for food.

The structure of the mouth is quite complex. This crustacean has three jaws, with which it grinds food. also in the oral apparatus includes the mandible, which allows you to firmly hold food. To move around the territory, as well as grasping food, they have other limbs.

The size of one adult is directly dependent on gender and variety. On average, the length of the body is from 3 to 8 centimeters.

Living in a home aquarium

This is such a troublesome creature that the owner of the aquarium will not notice the replenishment. She does not need anything special, just like for ordinary aquarium fish. But in order for the aquarium pet to always be brightly colored and pleasing to the eye, it is still necessary to fulfill a couple of conditions. There are also decorative types of aquarium crustaceans that are more capricious in terms of care.

The volume of the aquarium does not play a special role for shrimp. They do well in both small and large tanks. In order to have a rough idea of ​​the rate of water per individual, nevertheless, we will provide a peculiar formula: one liter of water per shrimp. But here must be taken into account and individual size. If it is large, then up to 4 liters of water per individual will be required.

The ideal water temperature for keeping shrimp is between 17 and 30 degrees. Basically, with such temperature regime lives most aquarium fish. You can keep the temperature even lower, but in this case the shrimp will not be active. At the same time, it has been proven that temperature jumps reduce the life expectancy of aquarium pets.

A prerequisite for caring for an aquarium shrimp is regular replacement of part of the water. She must be protected chlorine-free and its temperature should be room temperature.

An even more important criterion for water quality is the absence of copper, which will destroy underwater inhabitants. The hardness should be quite high, as this will help the pets take the substances they need from the water during molting.

Aeration and filtration of water is of secondary importance. You can do without it at all, but if it is possible to purify water and saturate it with oxygen, then this is excellent.

If the shrimp in the aquarium are not alone and they have neighbors, for example, fish, then such an underwater world must be equipped with places where pet can hide. For example, it can be live plants or other shelters.

Food and feed for aquarium shrimp

The shrimp is an omnivore that likes to eat up their food for fish, as well as eat specialized dry food. If this is not the case, then they will find their own food. They don't call shrimp cleaners for nothing. They will pick up leftover food from the bottom or feast on live plants or algae on the aquarium rocks.

If shrimp have no neighbors, then they need to be given special shrimp food, which can be bought at absolutely any zoological store. But regular fish food is also perfect for them. Many owners of such pets feed them boiled pasta and vegetables.

It is worth being careful with food, as an overfed shrimp becomes lazy and stops moving, while it stops cleaning the aquarium. In general, it is recommended to feed them only once a week and this is enough for them to feel and live normally, because specialized dry food contains all the necessary substances for the normal development of the shrimp body.

Neighborhood and keeping with other pets

Shrimp are great neighbors! They are very calm, friendly and since most their lives they hide in hiding, unfortunately, big fish can eat them. Simply put, a shrimp cannot interfere with anyone in an aquarium, but it has plenty of enemies. Therefore, you need to carefully select your neighbors for them.

Ideal neighbors would be:

• guppies;
• neon;
• zebrafish.

In principle, any small fish that are not able to swallow a shrimp will do. Snails also get along well with small crustaceans. As for cichlids, swordtails and barbs, such neighborly keeping is dangerous!

According to experienced aquarists, in a properly equipped aquarium, in which there are many secluded places, you can keep crustaceans and barbs and not be afraid of the consequences.

Reproduction and breeding

Dilute aquarium shrimp very real, but only in an aquarium isolated from fish. Otherwise, future offspring will simply become dinner for the fish. It is also recommended to use when breeding, shrimp without larval phase. Because only in this type of shrimp, the newborn offspring look like an adult and are able to eat dry food. This is incredibly convenient, as it deprives the breeder of a lot of care.

Crustacean diseases, prevention and treatment

Even if all conditions are met, clean water and ideal parameters are created, no one is immune from the fact that pets get sick with fungal diseases. It may seem that this is a harmless disease, but it can lead to the death of individuals. The fungus simply sucks nutrients out of the body and poisons it.

Aquarium shrimp are also susceptible to viral diseases that are practically untreatable.

Be that as it may, a sick individual should always be isolated from others. And at the same time, the water in the aquarium should be completely replaced. You can seek the advice of a specialist.

Shrimp Facts and Features

These small inhabitants complement the overall ensemble of the aquarium with their dynamism and unusualness. The owners of such pets need to know a few facts that need to be considered.

Most of the freshwater shrimp in our aquariums are from Asia. Their length, as a rule, does not exceed 6-8 cm. Almost all of them are omnivores, but they prefer lower aquatic vegetation. Shrimp are generally quite hardy creatures. Shrimps are interesting, mainly during the day, when they lead an active lifestyle, quickly moving along the bottom in search of food and crawling along the leaves of plants. In a moment of danger, they make spasmodic swimming movements in the water column with the help of contractions of the tail fan.

Shrimp molt regularly. Throwing off the chitinous shell. During molting (two - three days before molting and one or two after) they do not feed. Freed from the old shell, shrimp take refuge in thickets of plants, under stones or in other shelters. After molting, the integuments of shrimp are soft, and for some time, until the shell becomes hard, the animals are defenseless. After molting, damaged and lost limbs are restored in shrimp. In young individuals, this happens faster, in adults - gradually.

Shrimps are peaceful. They do not attack their own kind or other inhabitants of the aquarium.
Although when kept with fish, they themselves can become quite tasty food.

To the conditions of detention, all types of aquarium shrimp are picky. With the exception of some, for example, Sulawesi shrimp.
For successful maintenance, an aquarium from 10 liters is suitable. In which you can put 10-15 shrimp. But you need to remember that sooner or later they will breed and it will not be so easy to choose a fry. Therefore, we advise you to immediately start with large volumes of the aquarium.

aquarium shrimp look better on black ground. Although this is a matter of taste.
Amazingly, they live at temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius. So, if the temperature in your apartment does not drop below 17 degrees, you can safely keep a shrimp without heating equipment. Although the ideal temperature for them would be 24-25 C.

Thus, you can save on heating, but on aeration will not work. It is imperative to install aeration in the shrimp tank. Krill, unlike fish, is very sensitive to water saturation with oxygen.

For shrimp very it is important to have living plants in their habitat - an aquarium. It would be ideal to plant Java moss. Shrimps need it for hiding and cleaning. Of course, any plants are suitable for a start, even the same hornwort and pistia.

Water filtration for shrimp. It is necessary to put a nylon stocking on the internal filter, there must be a pre-filter on the intake pipe of the external filter, otherwise the shrimp will suck.

Shrimp lighting not really necessary, except perhaps in order to see the food :). But for the plants that will be in the shrimp, it is simply necessary.

And now an unpleasant moment when keeping shrimp.

Aquarium shrimp are very sensitive to the chemical composition of the water. The water that is replaced must be clean and well-settled. You also need to monitor the environment, the use of various kinds of sprays and fresheners in the room where the aquarium with shrimp is located is unacceptable, no one has yet canceled surface gas exchange. Be very careful when changing water and ventilate the room. In addition, shrimps do not tolerate high concentrations of nitrogenous compounds in the aquarium.

Nutrition for aquarium shrimp

Shrimps eat everything! In the literal sense of the word. They are constantly looking for food. They clean up the dead parts of plants, the corpses of other residents (if any) and the smallest particles of everything that can be eaten. You need to feed, or rather feed these arthropods no more than once every two days. At the same time, it is undesirable to feed them on the day when the water change is carried out. Hungry shrimp better tolerate stress or other unwanted changes.

You can feed any food, from dry daphnia to live and concentrated and balanced branded food.

You can feed them Tetra shrimp food. The food should be balanced and varied. Try to alternate feeds.

Shrimp service.

Maintaining a shrimp is no different than maintaining an aquarium with fish.
Water changes should be done once a week ~ 1/3 of the total volume. It is advisable to make a light siphon of soil every few months. Remove dead parts of plants and shells from coils. Emphasize! Everything must be done very carefully. Shrimp are much smaller than fish and can be inadvertently maimed or even killed. But in general, there is nothing complicated or unusual.

Breeding aquarium shrimp.

Shrimps do not need help in breeding! They are all good at it.
If the conditions are favorable and your shrimps are good, then the offspring will not keep you waiting.
During the period when the female is ready for breeding, she releases pheromones into the water. All males start chasing wildly around the aquarium and look for a female. Mating lasts no more than a second. Although the process of searching for a female usually lasts for hours. Shortly after mating, the so-called saddle appears on the back of the female. Cherry shrimp have yellow, special gray Piano. This is caviar at a certain stage. Subsequently, the female molts and the eggs move under the abdomen, and after 3-4 weeks the fry will appear.
Juveniles do not need special care. He eats what his parents eat right away. Hiding in thickets and swimming in jerks. The above applies only to shrimp: neocardina cherry and neocardina special. There are difficult types of shrimp that a beginner will not be able to breed, because. they need a special approach and a lot of knowledge and experience, for example, Amano shrimp, filter feeders.

Shrimp in aquariums began to contain relatively recently. But the fashion for this area of ​​​​aquaristics is gradually increasing, and this is understandable, because shrimps are very unusual. An aquarium with them invariably attracts attention and brings a touch of exotic brightness to our lives.

What kind of shrimp to get?

There are many types of aquarium shrimp! There are freshwater and marine, for example, small and large, simple and extremely unusual in appearance. Some shrimp are not at all difficult to keep, they practically do not require any special care, others are more finicky and require compliance special conditions. Now the most common freshwater shrimp. If you look at the habitat, then this unusual living creature, brought from Japan, China and India, is most in demand by aquarists.
Amano, Macrobrachium, Neocaridina, Athiopsis, Bumblebee are some of the most actively purchased for aquarium maintenance shrimp.

How to care for shrimp in an aquarium.

Certainly, different types shrimps will have their own characteristics when kept in an aquarium. But, in general, there are several points that should be observed after buying shrimp of any kind.
Temperature.
The best water temperature that will suit most species is 20-27 degrees. In general, the temperature range is quite wide: from 15-16 to 29-30 C. Shrimps are most active at the optimum temperature for them, but if the water temperature drops below 19-20 degrees, they become lethargic and slow. Some species die when the temperature drops.
Aeration.
Good aeration is vital for any type of shrimp. They do not tolerate oxygen starvation, so devices for aerating water must be turned on in the aquarium at all times.
carbonate hardness.
Carbonate is needed by shrimp to form a hard shell, so its content in water should always be sufficient. In order to increase carbonate hardness, pieces of marble and limestone are lowered to the bottom. Or you can use a special shrimp soil that also contains limestone.
The volume of water and the type of aquarium.
The smallest shrimps can be placed in an aquarium with a volume of 3-5 liters. But the most suitable would be a rectangular aquarium with a volume of 15 liters or more. On average, it is noted that a couple of individuals need 6 liters of water. In addition, do not forget about the size of the shrimp, even a large flock of small animals in a large aquarium will be lost. Therefore, when selecting, it is necessary to take into account the size of adults.

What to feed shrimp in an aquarium?

All shrimp are excellent orderlies that clean the bottom of the aquarium from the remnants of fish food, excrement or dead fish. In food they are unpretentious. With pleasure they eat algae, insects, snails, from plants - pieces of spinach, carrots, peas. It is wonderful to use bloodworms, daphnia, tubifex as food. Specialized feed, fish food, frozen and fresh are also great for shrimp diets.
Feeding is done once a day, if necessary, shrimp are able to endure prolonged starvation.

Individual characteristics of shrimp.

Shrimps are beautiful and exotic, they move, move their long whiskers and thus create a unique atmosphere of dynamism in the aquarium, interesting life. But when keeping shrimp, some factors must be taken into account.
1. Shrimps are not only capable, but also love to "jump" out of the aquarium. But, unlike crabs, they will not be able to live in the open air for a long time, a maximum of a few minutes. Therefore, an aquarium with shrimp must be closed with a lid on top.
2. Periodically, shrimp molt, throwing off the old shell. During the growth of the new, the animals remain defenseless; these days they hide in the thickets of greenery. It is not necessary to remove the thrown shell from the bottom, the shrimp can eat it, replenishing carbonate reserves. Another one interesting feature in that during molting, the shrimp can regenerate damaged limbs.
3. Keeping in the same aquarium with fish also has its own nuances. Dwarf and other small shrimp can be kept together with non-aggressive fish. You just need to remember that shrimp fry are well eaten even by peaceful fish. In turn, larger specimens of shrimp easily damage the fins of fish, especially veil-tailed ones, and small guppies can easily be eaten. Shrimps of 14-16 cm can also dig out aquarium plants.

Shrimps are, without a doubt, a bright decoration of any aquarium. A rare aquarist, seeing this hydrobiont, will not want to get it in his collection. And here it is precisely the question of a great variety of species of these arthropods that confronts him. After all, there are a huge variety of shrimp species for aquarium maintenance, although their diversity is often underestimated. Without exception, all types of aquarium shrimp are equally similar in structure to each other, but they differ greatly; there are small shrimp (1.8 cm) and really large specimens (up to 35 cm) from each other in size. Of course, the coloring of shrimp deserves special attention.

Classification issues

The classification of domestic shrimp is a complex and controversial issue. There is no strict certainty in this matter. Of course, you can divide these inhabitants of the aquarium by size, color, origin, but this will entail even more confusion and gossip. Strictly speaking, unambiguously, aquarium shrimp can be unambiguously separated in only two ways. By belonging to one or another family: Caridina, Neocaridina, Macrobrachium, Palaemonidae. Or by habitat - marine or freshwater, the latter, by the way, will be discussed further.

Within the variety of "crystal" shrimp, there is its own classification by color.

All types of aquarium shrimp

As they say, it is better to see once than hear many times, in our case, read, so let's get to the point, so what are the types of shrimp and what conditions do they require?

Amano

Caridina multidentata, Caridina japonica, Amano Shrimp.

Peaceful inhabitant of freshwater aquariums. Appearance the translucent color of gray-blue shades with randomly located dots on the sides (in males) and strokes (in females) is rather primitive. An excellent cleaner and simply an indispensable fighter with thread.

They live both in small and large groups, but because in breeding Amano shrimp is quite difficult, it is recommended to keep a flock of at least 10 individuals.

• Natural habitat: Korea, Taiwan, Yamato River in Japan.
• The size of the female is 5-6cm, the male is 3-4cm.
• Water parameters - temperature 23-27С, pH 7.2 - 7.5, hardness dH 2 - 20 °.

Harlequin

Harlequin Shrimp.

This shrimp is truly miniature and, in part, therefore, very shy. Leads a nocturnal and twilight lifestyle. The complexity of the character more than pays off with an outstanding appearance - white with red color, outlined in black, resembles a harlequin from DC Comics, this arthropod owes its name.

• In nature, it lives in Indonesia on the island of Sulawesi.
• Size 0.6 - 1.3 cm.
• Lives in an aquarium from a year to a year and a half.
• Suitable parameters are temperature 26-29°C, acidity pH 7.2-8.4, hardness dH 15-25°.

white pearl

Snowball, Snowflake, Neocaridina cf. zhangjiajiensis var. White, White Pearl Shrimp, Snowball Shrimp.

This artificially bred beauty is unpretentious in content and is suitable even for beginners. Quiet and even meek disposition makes it an excellent pet, provided that there are no predatory, very active or aggressive fish among the neighbors. Any aquarium will be decorated with a grayish-white arthropod, transparent as glass, so much so that it is absolutely not difficult to distinguish a female from a male. In the female representatives, the ovaries are visible through the light, and the caviar is completely white, reminiscent of snow, for which the shrimp received the nickname Snowflake.

Feel best in a group of 10 to 20 individuals.

• Does not occur in nature. Artificially bred by German breeder Ulf Gottschalk.
• Length 2 - 2.5 cm.
• Longevity of life is not more than 2 years.
• Conditions in the aquarium: temperature - 20-28 ° C, hardness - 6-20 °, pH not more than 7.5.

blue pearl

Blue neocaridina, Blue shrimp, Blue Pearl Shrimp, Crystal Blue shrimp, Ice Blue, Ice Blue, Ice Blue.

It was bred by crossing a blue neocardina with white individuals.

The color can change depending on the mood and well-being, while the more the color fades, the worse the arthropod feels. It is best to observe the pearl in a flock of 10 individuals and a spacious aquarium, at least 60 - 80 liters.

• China is the birthplace and region of selection.
• Standard size 2.5cm.
• 18-29°C, 6.8-7.5 Ph, dGH 2-25.
• Life cycle 2 years.

Atyidae is the common name for aquarium freshwater shrimp.

blue neocardina

Blue neocardine, blue dream.

Brightly colored peaceful shrimp. There are difficulties regarding the reproduction of this species, the offspring often turns out to be greenish, gray-brown, or even completely transparent, the “blue” gene must be constantly fixed. Like most Atyidae, they do best in a group of 10-20 individuals.

• The result of the work of German and Japanese breeders. First introduced to the public in the US in 2006.
• Size of females up to 3 cm, males up to 2.
• The life span is about 2 years.
• T ° 18-28 degrees Celsius, pH 6.5 - 7.5, average hardness 2-25.

Blue brindle

Blue tiger.

the brightest hallmark of these tigers are orange eyes, which have not been seen in other aquarium arthropods. Despite the exotic appearance and the high price of maintenance, they are not whimsical.

Require frequent infusion of fresh "blood" because. due to inbreeding in the selection process, they are prone to degeneration.

• They do not occur in nature. Derived from regular tiger shrimp.
• They live up to 2 years maximum.
• The average size is 2-2.5cm.
• Acceptable water parameters: temperature from 15 to 30, acidity 6.5 -7.5 (more acidic water breed better), hardness from 1 to 15.

blue aura

Aura Blue Dwarf Shrimp.

The Blue Aura Shrimp is undeniably one of the most beautiful of the Atyidae genus, perhaps even the most beautiful of all blue shrimps, and at the same time, as is often the case, quite enigmatic. Information about the aura can be found at a minimum, this is due to the fact that it settled in aquariums (especially Russian ones) quite recently, below is the most important information, in our opinion.

They breed easily and willingly, an experienced female carries up to 30 larvae under the tail. Despite the rarity, the conditions of keeping are very prosaic, a 10 liter aquarium with high-quality water is enough for a small flock, which will be replaced often. The aura also has an unusual trait that cannot be ignored! After molting, this hydrobiont becomes almost transparent, but do not worry, the color will be restored within a week and will delight you again.

• Origin - Thailand.
• Life expectancy maximum 2 years.
• Size 2-3cm.
• Aquarium water parameters 23-25°, pH 7-7.5, medium hardness.

blue-footed bee

Blue Leg shrimp, Blue Poso shrimp, Caridina ensifera Blue, Caridina Blue tail, Peacock.

The appearance of the blue-footed bee is more than remarkable and is unlikely to leave any aquarist indifferent. The body is gray, on the tail blue spots, (for which the crustacean was nicknamed Peacock), blue paws and bright red antennae - antennae.

Bees have a peaceful disposition, easily get along with both non-aggressive species of arthropods and peaceful fish.

• Natural habitat: Lake Poso, Indonesia, Sulawesi Islands.
• The maximum size is 3cm.
• Life expectancy is two to three years.
• Water parameters - temperature 28-30°C, pH 7.5 - 8.5, hardness dH 7-15°, effective aeration is required.

yellow shrimp

Lemon, Yellow Pearl, Canary.

The calling card of the canary, of course, is its bright yellow color. This is the only representative of aquarium arthropods that has this color, however, with age, the pet acquires an orange tint, which does not make it less pretty.

With insufficient nutrition, they are able to eat all the vegetation around them.

• Does not occur in nature.
• The size of the yellow shrimp is 2.5 - 3 cm.
• Maximum age 2, rarely 3 years
• Optimal conditions: water 15 - 28 ° C, acidity 6.8-8.0 Ph.

green shrimp

Babaulti, caridina babaulti, Green Midget shrimp.

The bright and active green babaulti shrimp was discovered in India during an expedition and described in 1918. This species has often been subjected to selection, currently 5 color variations are known - blue, white red-nosed, brown, orange. The most common color in aquariums is green, most of whose representatives were brought from India, and only a small part was born in aquariums.

• Homeland India (small rivers and streams)
• Size up to 3.5cm
• Water: Temperature from 20 to 28, hardness - 5-20, acidity - 6.5-8. Aeration and frequent water changes of about 20% of the volume are required.

Cardinal

Cardinal Shrimp and Caridina sp. "Cardinal", Denerly, Caridina dennerli.

Many atyidae have a bizarre, memorable appearance, but even among them, the Cardinal, which has recently appeared in aquariums, stands out very brightly. The color varies from red to cherry, and on the sides there is always an up-to-date white polka dot. Thin and long legs and a pointed nose only add aristocracy to Cardinal Shrimp. Despite the apparent simplicity, the content of these arthropods has a lot of pitfalls and therefore for beginners this species does not fit!

• Natural habitat: Indonesia, rocky areas of Lake Matano on the island of Sulawesi.
• Size 1 - 2 cm.
• Water parameters - temperature 26 - 29C, pH 7 - 9, hardness dH 9-15.

Macrobrachnums, Macrobrachium assamense.

The ring-armed shrimp is relatively large, for aquarium arthropods, species. Females reach a size of 5 cm, males are even larger and grow up to 7. The marble color, like in many other species, depends on nutrition and soil. One claw is larger than the other, but this is clearly visible only in large males.

Macrobrachnums are aggressive towards each other and towards other neighbors. Although they are predominantly nocturnal, they are ready to actively hunt down prey at any time. Therefore, forget about the thought of keeping the ring-handed with other arthropods or small fish. For these tireless hunters, large fish of at least 5 cm, living in the middle and upper layers of a domestic reservoir, can become good neighbors.

• In nature, they live in the Eastern Himalayas, in local mountain lakes and rivers.
• The length reaches 7cm.
• Longevity of life 1.5 - 3 years.
• Conditions in the aquarium: temperature - 21-25 ° C, hardness - 10-20 °, pH 7 - 7.5. Enhanced filtration and aeration are required, weekly water changes, if it is cold, this will have a positive effect on life expectancy.

At least 10-15 liters are needed per individual. They require flocking - 1 male and several females.

Halocaridina rubra.

The owner of a non-trivial appearance red Hawaiian shrimp ceases to be red in a stressful situation! The color fades and the animal masquerades as environment. The character is peaceful and accommodating, but the shrimp itself can become a prey for other inhabitants of the aquarium.

There are companies selling red Hawaiian shrimp in sealed ecospheres. The shrimp in them slowly dies before your eyes, and this process can last up to 3 years. All this time, the shrimp feeds only on its shell from molt to molt. Halocaridina rubra is a very tenacious and immensely patient creature.

• In good conditions, the maximum recorded life of this baby is 20 years.
• As the name implies, it lives in Hawaii.
• The standard size does not exceed 1.2 cm.
• Life cycle, on average, 8 - 10 years.
• Surprisingly, both salt and fresh water are suitable for life. With a temperature of 20 - 23g, although it can also tolerate a range of 15-30 ° C, pH 8.2 - 8.4.

red shrimp

Neocardina heteropoda, Cherry, Cherry.

Most popular and widely known species aquarium arthropods. Bright, unpretentious, willingly breeding Cherries have long and happily inhabited the home ponds of aquarists around the world. Read more about Cherry shrimp on our website.

• Neocardina - a species from which cherries were bred, lives in Taiwan.
• Size up to 4 cm.
• The life span is about 3 years.
• T ° 20 - 29 degrees Celsius, pH 6-8, hardness up to 15 ° dH. Be sure to have plants and mosses in which cherries can hide.

The species obtained as a result of selection of the red shrimp differs little from it, with the exception of a much brighter and rich color ranging from red to cherry.

Also bred in Taiwan from the species Neocardina heteropoda and differs from its progenitor in that this shrimp is orange from head to toe. The fry of orange fire are born lighter for their own protection, but in the process of life the color becomes more saturated and brighter.

red crystal

Red Bee, Crystal Red Shrimp, Red Bee.

Aquarium crystals are peaceful and have a very memorable appearance, for which they have gained great popularity all over the world. Within this species, as well as among its predecessor, the Bee shrimp, there is a whole hierarchy of its own in terms of color. So, some types of red bees, for example, Snow White, which will be mentioned below, are very expensive, and some have a very affordable price.

• selection result. The first Crystal Red Shrimp was obtained by Japanese breeder Hisayasu Suzuki in 1993 while breeding classic black striped bees.
• Size of females up to 2.5 cm, males up to 2 cm.
• The life span is about 2 years.
• T ° 20 -27 degrees Celsius, pH 5.5 - 7, average hardness 4-6. very sensitive to dirty water- do not forget about filtration and weekly replacement of at least a third of the volume of aqua.

Caridina cf. cantonensis 'Snow White'.

Snow White belongs to the species Red Crystal.

The snow-white shrimp is one of the types of red bee shrimp. There are Snow Whites of varying degrees of whiteness and, of course, the most valuable are completely white specimens, and the least valuable, in turn, are arthropods with a predominant area of ​​​​transparent body segments. The conditions of its content are somewhat different from traditional crystals:

• Adult size up to 3 cm.
• The average length of life is 2-4 years.
• The required temperature is 25–30°C, hardness is 1–10, acidity is 6.0–7.5 pH.

red ruby

Caridina cf. cantonensis 'Red Ruby'.

Another representative of the genus crystal. In contrast to Snow White, it is absolutely not whimsical, withstands a huge range of acidity and hardness, but in the "home" selection, the offspring may not become as bright as its parents, and so over and over again.

• Size up to 3.5 cm, other parameters do not differ from the ancestor described above - the Red bee.

As a rule, the higher the class of shrimp, the more difficult it is to care for it.

Shrimp Ruby Red in 2009 set a record for the high cost - it was bought at an auction for 4800 euros.

Caridina cantonensis sp. Red Tiger.

The red tiger shrimp is perfectly camouflaged in its natural habitat - the light beige body of the arthropod is wrapped in thin red stripes, and the bottom of the native reservoirs is covered with red stones - the shrimp is invisible there, and it is impossible not to pay attention to it in the aquarium! Perfectly coexists with peaceful medium-sized fish and contrasts beautifully with plants.

• In nature, it lives in the reservoirs of southern China.
• They live on average up to 2 years.
• The size reaches 3.5 cm.
• Acceptable water parameters: temperature from 25 to 30, acidity 6.5 -7.8, hardness from 1 to 15 dGH.

Red Noice Shrimp, Pinocchio, Rudolph, Rhino, Rhino.

I would compare the red-nosed shrimp with an arrow - thin, sharp, graceful, this ten-legged beauty will not leave you indifferent! The body of the shrimp is almost transparent, but the shade may change depending on the mood of the shrimp. So the milky shade speaks of the disease of living creatures.

In its natural environment, this shrimp is a vegetarian, so with a lack of vegetation in the diet, it will gladly absorb aquarium plants.

• Native to India and Southeast Asia. Ponds with stagnant water, or very weak current.
• Females reach a size of 4 cm, males 2.5.
• Necessary conditions: temperature 20-28 ° C, acidity pH 6.4-7.5, hardness dH 8-15 °, water must be brackish 8-10 grams table salt per liter of water, do not forget about this when choosing neighbors for the red-nosed beauty and plants for decorating the aquarium.

Macrobrachium sp. "Inle-See".

Inle Lake is located in Myanmar (Southeast Asia), it is a truly large body of water, its size is 22 km by 10 km, and the mysterious Inle Lake shrimp lives here. This arthropod belongs to the Palaemonidae shrimp species and belongs to predators. The appearance is modest - a transparent body with reddish stripes and strokes of various types.

• In nature, they live, as the name suggests, in Inle Lake.
• The length reaches 3cm.
• Conditions in the aquarium: temperature - 25-29 ° C, hardness - 5-9 °, pH 6-7.5.

tangerine

Orange Sunkist Shrimp, Tangerine Shrimp, Caridina sp. Orange Borneo, Caridina thambipillai, Fanta Shrimp, Orange Soda Shrimp.

Peaceful and funny like its name, the Mandarin shrimp is a typical member of the Caridina genus. The transparent body is orange, sometimes with reddish dots and strokes on the sides. You can only keep a flock, preferably at least 8 individuals.

• In nature, they live on the island of Sulawesi, in Indonesia.
• Life expectancy is not more than 2 years.
• Length. Females reach 3 cm, males do not grow larger than 2.5.
• Conditions in the aquarium: temperature - 20-28 ° C, hardness -6-15 °, pH 6.5-8.

Nigerian shrimp

Nigerian shrimp, Atia, Cameroon filter feeder.

More than an unusual aquarium shrimp Atiya. It is very large for an aquarium, its color is more than modest from grayish blue to bleached blue, but what the most interesting thing is that she has no claws! The thing is that the Nigerian shrimp lives in reservoirs with a strong current and get their own food by filtration. Peaceful and interesting arthropod, will never offend your fish.

• Live in West Africa
• The size of an adult female reaches 18 cm, males are smaller - a maximum of 14.
• Water parameters: T 23-28°С, pH 6.5 - 7.5.

Desmocaris trispinosa.

It is possible to confuse the Nigerian floating shrimp and Atiya (which was mentioned above) only by name, because outwardly these arthropods are complete antipodes of each other. The NPK is medium-sized and transparent in appearance, generally nondescript and interesting mainly for its unusual way of movement for shrimp, it seems to soar, float above the surface.

• Homeland - Africa.
• Temperature - 25–29°С, pH - 6.0–7.5, hardness - 6–9 dGH.

Another major difference between the NPC and the Nigerian shrimp, the latter needs a strong current, while the former prefers completely stagnant water.

Ninja

Caridina - serratirostris, Ninja Shrimp, honey or Christmas shrimp.

Ninja shrimp carry their mysterious name for a reason, and among their many nicknames, “chameleon” is missing. We already wrote that some shrimp are able to change color during stress, fright, or vice versa courting a female, a ninja is a completely different matter, this is an unsurpassed master of disguise. Watching how the shrimp changes color depending on which pebble it sits on is a real pleasure! In addition, there are no difficulties in keeping this arthropod, but the excellent resume of caridina - serratirostris is overshadowed, only by the fact that reproduction in an aquarium requires titanic efforts and, as a result, is almost impossible.

• The region of origin is Asia, more precisely Japan, the Philippine, Polynesian Islands, the island of Fiji, the island of Madagascar.
• Life expectancy is 2-3 years on average.
• The size of the male is up to 2.5 cm, the females are larger by 1 cm.
• Water parameters: temperature 22-27°C, acidity 6.4-7.3, hardness dH 6-20°.

Macrobrachium carcinus.

This article has already written about shrimp of the genus Macrobrachium and the main thing that you should remember about them is almost all representatives of this species of predators, therefore, it is worth choosing their neighbors very carefully, and the long-claw shrimp is no exception.

Males perform a very entertaining mating dance for females, but due to natural shyness, the arthropod dances only in the dark.

At home in the countries of Central and South America, Macrobrachium carcinus itself is a subject of hunting, the locals eat them.

• The natural habitat is the fast large streams of Central and South America.
• Average size 30 -35cm.
• Requirements for the content are as simple as possible - warm, pure water from 22 to 27°C, and a strong current.

Bee

Caridina cantonensis sp. "Bee" - Black Bee Shrimp.

The bees include many other shrimp bearing different names, but the history of the appearance and living conditions of these arthropod relatives are the same. Therefore, when reading about the shrimp bee, keep in mind that it says about: striped bee, black bee, princess bee, King Kong shrimp, Panda, Bumblebee, Black Diamond (aka black tiger) and some others.

The bee has almost equal proportions of black and white, the Black Diamond shrimp, King Kong are almost black, the Panda has white areas at the junction of the cephalothorax and rostrum, as well as stripes on the abdomen.

The higher the class of black diamonds (like the red ones we have already talked about), the more difficult their content is., and King Kongs, for example, almost do not breed in amateur aquariums.

• Country of origin - Taiwan (bred by man).
• The average life expectancy is 1.5g.
• Size - up to 3.5 cm.
• Necessary conditions: temperature 20-26°С, acidity pH 6.0-6.8, hardness Gh 2-5 °dH.

Riley

Riley Shrimp.

Lightweight and weightless, the Riley shrimp was bred from the genus Neocaridina heteropoda by famous breeder Suzuki Hisuasu among aquarists. Red rilies were the first to appear and they were so loved by the aquarium community that orange, blue, yellow ones soon appeared ... The value of Rili Shrimp depends on how large a part of the shrimp's body is transparent. This active baby is looking for food all day long, swimming around the aquarium.

• Released in Taiwan in 1996.
• Length is 2 cm on average.
• Water: temperature 18-28°C, acidity pH 6.4 - 7.6, hardness dH 4-14°.

Indian, Asian, Thai, Grass shrimp. Ghost, GLASS SHRIMP, Palaemonetes paludosus.

There are 2 species of relatively large glass shrimp that are extremely similar in appearance, so we will divide them according to their habitat into Asian and North American. Both are transparent, for which they were nicknamed "glass", the Asian one has the nickname Grass Shrimp, and the name Ghost is often applied to the American one.

Both of them can independently build shelters for themselves if sand or very fine gravel is used as soil. Large individuals during the breeding season can be aggressive towards small brothers, in order to avoid this, adhere to the proportion of 1 shrimp: 4 liters of water or more.

• The average life span is 1-2 years, rarely longer.
• Size up to 5 cm females, males maximum 4 cm, both in good conditions.
• But the look at the good conditions of keeping these shrimp is different:
• Asians. Water temperature 20-28gr., acidity pH 6.5-7.5, hardness does not matter.
• Americans. Temperature 18-29g., pH acidity - 6.5-7.5, hardness GH - 5-8.
• For those and others, it is necessary to have high-quality filtration and aeration, as well as weekly water changes up to 20% of the volume of the aquarium.

Filterer Anopsis

Atyopsis moluccensis, banana, bamboo, forest shrimp.

The appearance of anopsis is unlikely to make you fall in love with it without a memory. Brown stripes on a yellowish body make it invisible in nature, but this crustacean does not intend to hide in an aquarium. He will definitely take some peak and begin to catch food with his paws - fans (which replaced the claws). This is a very interesting and even bewitching sight. If the filter feeder began to spend more time at the bottom in search of food, it means that he is malnourished, because his way of eating is not quite usual and it is more difficult for him to get enough than others.

• Homeland - Southeast Asia.
• The maximum age is 2 years.
• Length 6-10cm.
• Comfortable parameters: temperature 23-29C, acidity pH: 6.5-7.5, hardness dH: 6-15.

Leander modestus.

This is, perhaps, the only aquarium shrimp, whose native reservoirs are located, including on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The appearance of the leander is not very expressive - an almost transparent body and very long antennae, sometimes exceeding the length of its owner. But this shrimp can be observed around the clock, because, unlike many of their counterparts, they are active even during the day. They live in peace and harmony with the fish, they perfectly play the role of a cleaner, picking with small claws in the ground. Conflicts within the group are possible if there is not enough space in the aquarium. One Khanka shrimp should have at least 7-10 liters.

• Region of natural residence Far East, Lake Khanka, etc.
• The body size of the female is 3-4 cm, males, as is most often the case in arthropods, their smaller length varies from 2 to 2.5 cm.
• Water for hankaiki needs to be very clean, so you can not save on the filter. Round the clock aeration is required. The temperature is tolerated at 15-30 ° C, although it is better, of course, not to bring it to extremes and stop in the range of 20 -24 ° C. The ideal option would be if the water temperature in the aquarium drops in winter, and rises in spring, closer to summer, in order to get closer to natural annual cycle. Hardness not less than 10. It does not impose special requirements on acidity.

Caridina Simoni Simoni.

A small, transparent Ceylon shrimp is interesting, first of all, for its active behavior - it actively scurries around the aquarium all day long in search of food and does not at all seek to hide anywhere. The color varies from brownish and greenish to blue.

• Homeland Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Java.
• Length 1.8-2.5 cm.
• Maintenance requirements: strong aeration and filtration, weekly water changes at least 1/3. water temperature 20-30°C, acidity pH 5.5-8, hardness dH 3-15°.

Macrobrachium nipponense.

A very elegant Japanese shrimp resembles a glass figurine - a transparent, slightly brownish body with a contrasting black stripe for a third of its length, brick-red claws in males and orange in females, and bead eyes complete the picture.

The character is nasty and even aggressive, so only arthropods of similar size and fish that will not give themselves offense can be neighbors of this species.

In the group, stick to the balance of 1 male -2.3 females.

• In nature, they live in Japan, which becomes obvious from the name.
• Size 6-8cm.
• Water temperature 26-30, acidity pH 6.4-6.8, hardness does not matter.

Outcome

Whatever type of shrimp you choose for yourself, remember a few simple rules that will help you and make life easier for your pets:

1. Copper is contraindicated for shrimps of any kind. Be careful, because it is contained in many medicines for fish.
2. Any arthropod (and fish will be grateful) should live in a clean environment, so consider the issue of filtration and water changes in advance.
3. The presence of plants in the aquarium is mandatory. It is better if these are mosses and small-leaved for small breeds and larger ones for serious sized arthropods.
4. If you are planning to do breeding, theoretically crossbreeding is possible as follows: Caridina + Caridina, Macrobrachium + Macrobrachium, Neocaridina + Neocaridina, etc. Shrimps belonging to different families not only do not interbreed, but can also conflict when kept together. However, one should not conclude that any species can be crossed within the same family. The issue of shrimp breeding is delicate and individual, but if you decide to select these animals, you will not regret it.

The world of aquarium shrimp is more than diverse and everyone can find a shrimp to their liking.

There are more and more fans of aquarium shrimp every year. They are bred by both beginners and experienced aquarists. However, they, like other types of living beings, can only survive in specially created conditions.

Shrimps are crustaceans that could occupy not only the seas, but also adapted to life in freshwater reservoirs. The latter became the progenitors of those species that are grown in aquariums.

Description

All species differ in size and color. Despite this, the structure of the body is the same for everyone.

They do not have developed claws, their role is played by the mandibles. They serve for walking, as well as for holding food.

Shrimps look like crayfish with a well-developed tail. Relying on it, they can make some kind of jumps and escape from enemies, for example, predatory neighbors.

Shrimps can rotate their eyes in different directions, so they have a wide view. high level touch and smell are facilitated by long antennae.

The size of adults depends on the species. Small and medium species reach 2-5, and large - 15 centimeters.

Types of aquarium shrimp

Most aquarium shrimp enter domestic waters from Southeast Asia. There them in large quantities grown on specially equipped farms, creating all the necessary conditions for reproduction.

Not all shrimp are cute small and harmless crustaceans, sometimes real giants appear on sale, for example, Rosenberg's macrobrachium (lat. Macrobrachium Rosenbergii), which grows quite rapidly in an aquarium up to 40 cm. There is no need to talk about the peacefulness of such an inhabitant - this animal actively breaks the ground, hunts other fish and shrimps, pulls out and eats plants. The danger is that the sellers themselves are not always aware of the potential of their product, and sell them under the guise of ordinary tiny aquarium inhabitants. You can identify Rosenberg by the red "nose" with serrations and long jaws.

In general, small representatives of the genera caridina (lat. Caridina) and neocaridina (lat. Neocaridina), as well as some types of macrobranchiums (lat. Macrobrachium) are popular.

Macrobranchium Rosenberg.

Cherry shrimp (lat. Neocaridina davidi)

Very common in home aquariums. The name is due to the red color of the body. This species is quite deservedly popular, because it is unpretentious to habitat conditions, and besides, it breeds very quickly.

The maximum size of an adult is 2.5-3 centimeters. Thanks to this, cherry shrimp can get along in small aquariums, the size of which does not exceed 10 liters. Growing experience can begin with cherries.

In nature, these shrimp have a nondescript olive-green color. Cherry color was obtained by selective means. Thus, it was possible to bring out blue, yellow, white and even black cherries.

The brightness of the color of this shrimp depends on many factors:

• Lighting. In bright light, the coloring of cherries becomes saturated, and in dim light, on the contrary, it becomes darker.
• Stress. The aquarium must have a lot of hiding places and a lot of vegetation planted in which the cherries will feel confident. If the shrimp is afraid, its color will become dimmer. After transportation, it may become completely transparent, but do not worry, the color will return after a few hours.
• Background. When choosing a soil, it is better to choose a dark one, because it is on it that the color looks contrasting. Cherry blossoms may fade on light ground.
• Feed. For feeding shrimp, you can use granules of various red feeds with the addition of carotenoids, as well as carrots and red vegetable peppers.
• Genetics. In captivity, cherries reproduce quite quickly, and often without the intervention of the host. In such an environment of chaotic, and often closely related crossing, degeneration of offspring can occur. For this reason, it is better to cull pale-colored individuals in a timely manner and periodically “renew the blood” with new bright shrimps.

Cherries in various colors.

Bumblebee aquarium shrimp (lat. Caridina cantonensis)

This small shrimp reaches a length of 2-3 cm, and, like the cherry, has become a remarkable object for selection. On sale you can find a large number of a wide variety of bizarre colors; red and white, crystal wine, blue and white, black and white, yellow, brindle, etc.

Collectors divide these shrimp into classes according to color, and how prettier drawing on the body or the more any color predominates, the higher the class of the crustacean and the more expensive it is.

It is unpretentious in care and gets along well with cherries. Although it breeds in fresh water, it is problematic to breed it in an aquarium, since juveniles are very sensitive to water quality.

Shrimp bumblebee color variation Crystal Red.

Amano (lat. Caridina multidentata)

This species is larger than the previous two. Females reach up to 6 cm, males are smaller - up to 4 cm.

The species is named after the famous Japanese aquarium designer Takashi Amano. This crustacean is the custodian of the order and cleanliness of the domestic reservoir, perfectly eats filamentous algae and various fouling.

It has a translucent light olive color, over which many dark and reddish blotches are scattered. A wide golden stripe stretches across the entire body from the rostrum to the tail.

Although it is considered a relatively unpretentious species, it is almost impossible to breed it in an aquarium, since it will be necessary to grow offspring salty water. Typically, Amano shrimp are bred on Asian farms using equipment.

Amano shrimp.

Shrimp filter feeder (lat. Atyopsis moluccensis)

This unusual water dweller has special "fans" that help to catch a variety of plankton and detritus from the water column. In the aquarium, carefully filtering the water from the remnants of food.

Filter feeders look very attractive - the color can vary from olive to reddish-yellow. Horizontal dark stripes run along the entire body, the back is yellow.

Like Amano, filter feeder juveniles require salt water. In fresh water, the larvae die after a week.

Filter shrimp.

Conditions of detention

For shrimp, it is very important to have the right aquarium with enough space for each individual. The container must be selected with the calculation of a liter of water per shrimp. However, with a maximum body size of 2 centimeters, two individuals can get along in one liter.

Although some shrimp can be kept in small aquariums, it is better to use more spacious ones - from 20 liters. The larger the vessel, the more stable the biological balance in it.

They can be planted with fish or you can prepare a separate aquarium - a shrimp tank. When keeping them in a common aquarium, the right neighborhood plays an important role. The fact is that most fish will not miss the opportunity to offend the shrimp. This is not about simple competition. Fish often hunt them, taking them for food.

A large number of shelters can provide security for them. Shrimps can hide both in decorative elements and among plants.

If the fish began to perceive shrimp as a food object, then the crustaceans should be immediately deposited. Tetras and others are best suited as neighbors. small fish, rarely sinking to the bottom and having a small mouth.

When choosing, you can pay attention to Javanese moss. Adults can hide in it and larvae grow up. In the general aquarium, there should be more such moss, then not a single fish will be able to get the shrimp out of its shelter.

You can use fast growing plants such as hornwort or elodea. They will absorb nitrogen compounds from the water that are harmful to crustaceans. But it is important not to overdo it, since such vegetation can compete with algae, an important element in the shrimp diet. In addition to fast-growing greens, you can use echinodorus, cryptocorynes and anubias.

You can decorate the aquarium with snags and dried oak leaves. Various microorganisms are planted in them, which will serve as an excellent food base for shrimp. It is better to choose dried fallen leaves. To drown them, they are soaked in water for 2-3 days, after which they are placed in an aquarium.

Shrimps, like fish, are cold-blooded animals, so whether they are active or not depends on the temperature that has been created in the aquarium. It should be 20-28 degrees. But even a drop to 15 degrees will not be fatal for them. They will become less active and stop reproducing.

If the water is heated to 32 degrees, protein coagulation will occur in the body, which means probable death for all individuals. in crustaceans hypersensitivity to a sudden change in temperature. For example, its jump by 7 degrees threatens the fish with illness, and the shrimps with death. Therefore, if a change is planned, it should be done gradually.

The amount of water that is replaced in the aquarium should not exceed 1/4 of its volume. This procedure can be repeated no more than once a week. Shrimp can live in tap water, but you only need to replace it when the temperature warms up to room temperature.

The chemical composition of the water does not matter much. The main thing is that there is no copper in it, otherwise both adults and larvae will die. In addition, the hardness of the water should be medium, otherwise, during the molt, they will have nowhere to take the necessary substances to build a shell.

It is important to siphon the soil often, as shrimp leave a lot of waste. If the ammonia level rises sharply, they will get sick.

Lack of oxygen also has a detrimental effect on these crustaceans. To enrich water with oxygen, it is necessary to install a special compressor.

The filter is best used with a sponge, otherwise small individuals will get inside. In shrimp tanks, the filter is optional, but in the general aquarium it will have to be installed.

The aquarium should be equipped with a special lid, as many species can crawl out of it. In the air, the shrimp can live only a few minutes. If the crustaceans began to leave the aquarium en masse, then it's time to think about changing the water.

Red cherry.

Buying such an unusual animal as an aquarium shrimp should not be spontaneous. Before going to the store, you need to carefully prepare by studying the theoretical base. Carefully consider the photos of the selected species in order to buy it, and not a predatory individual, which in six months will reach 20 cm in size.

In the store, carefully consider the behavior and color of crustaceans. There should be no plaque, white or bloody stains on their shell. Transparent shrimp should not be milky cloudy.

It is better not to take adults, as shrimp do not have a long lifespan, and may soon die of old age. It is also better not to buy females with eggs, as they do not tolerate transportation and adaptation in a new aquarium.

After buying a bag with shrimp, you need to put a little aquatic plants for which the shrimp can latch onto. In hot weather, delivery to the house is best ensured as quickly as possible, avoiding overheating.

Do not rush and release the shrimp immediately into the aquarium. It is better to put the bag in water and wait until the temperature equalizes. It usually takes 15-20 minutes.

If there are fish in the aquarium, the light must be turned off during the release. This is necessary so that they do not notice the new inhabitant and do not start to "peck" him.

Yellow cherry.

Nutrition

Most species are not picky about food. They eat food left after fish, bloodworms and tubifex, algal and bacterial fouling.

They can destroy, which fills the entire aquarium (it is very difficult to fight it manually).

Although they can find food on their own, they also need to be fed. You can buy special food or feed with pieces of boiled vegetables. This should be done several times a week, but not more than once a day. Overfed shrimp will not do well. Given their ability to search for food on their own, they can be left unattended for 7-10 days.

Overfeeding is dangerous for shrimp, as they are able to search for food on their own, but they cannot get away from polluted water.

Pregnant shrimp.

reproduction

Aquarium shrimps are bisexual crustaceans. The female stands out noticeably against the background of males with increased size and a convex abdomen. After the female reaches puberty, she develops eggs under her tail. For this reason, the tail is also larger than that of the male.

To attract the male, pheromones produced by her body are used. After fertilization of the eggs, the larvae develop after 4-6 weeks.

The appearance of juveniles depends on the species of the parents. Cherries and bumblebees reproduce tiny shrimps - exact copies adults. All that is required of the owner in this case is to provide the kids with suitable living conditions.

Some shrimp, such as Amano and the filter feeder, produce larvae that naturally swim into the sea, mature there, and then return to the rivers. In conditions of captivity, it is extremely difficult to create such an environment.

Shrimps increase in size only during molting. They shed their chitinous shell, after which a new one grows. It is not necessary to remove the old one from the shrimp. It contains enough nutrients to build a new shell.

You can watch the life of shrimp and their habits for hours, because they are not just beautiful animals. It is not difficult to create suitable living conditions for them, and they will thank the caring owners with offspring.