Tank Requirements
Minimum 5-10 gallons. Heavily planted with java moss for hiding and grazing.
Sponge filter (no impeller — shrimp get sucked into power filters).
Water Parameters
pH 6.5-7.5. GH 6-12 (medium hardness essential for shell formation).
Avoid copper at all costs — copper kills invertebrates. Check medications, fertilizers, even tap water.
Diet
Algae, biofilm, decaying plant matter naturally available in planted tanks.
Supplement with shrimp pellets, blanched vegetables, occasional protein (frozen bloodworms — sparingly).
- ✦Almond leaves provide tannins and biofilm food
- ✦Calcium supplementation for shell quality
- ✦No predators — even small fish eat baby shrimp
Breeding
Females carry visible orange eggs under tail. After 30 days, fully formed shrimplets emerge.
Each female has 20-30 babies. Colony explodes if not predated.
Color intensity: select highest-color individuals to breed forward over generations.