Shrimp Name: Bumblebee Shrimp (Caridina cf. breviata) (High Order)

Origin: Southern Eastern China, Hong Kong

Description: My coloration ranges from black to brown with white stripes, and my head is brown with a white neck. I have a life span of around 16 months. When fully mature my average size ranges from 2.5-3.5cm. My diet consists of algae but not as much as the Amano and also supplemented with fish food flakes, leaves and pellets.

Water Parameters: We are a little picky when it comes to water conditions. Like all shrimp we require regular water changes. Unlike some shrimp we prefer lower temperatures ranging from 20-26°C/ 65-79°F, and we will not tolerate temperatures that are too high. Our water should have no traces of ammonia as this is hazardous to our health. A pH of 6.5-7.5 is preferable and slightly acidic water will do the trick for us.

Sexing: As always, it is difficult to tell us apart when we are young. It becomes a lot easier as we mature from juveniles to adults. The males are a little smaller than the females. The best way to sex us is to look at the female’s tail which is fuller around the pleopods. Also, the females have a rounder carapace.

Breeding: We are not very difficult to breed. The requirements for a successful breeding project include regular water changes, a well planted tank and large numbers from both sexes. Bumblebee shrimplets do not have a planktonic larval stage instead they are fully developed miniature adults minus the color and sexual organs. At spawning the female is likely to lay 7 – 22 eggs on their pleopods and they will hatch roughly within a month (We are yet to confirm this at Shrimp Diaries as we have some berried Bumblebee shrimp). There is speculation about how often they reproduce, and we are currently observing our stock at Shrimp Diaries.

Compatibility: We are very peaceful and will not harm any other tank mates. Because of our small size we are likely to be a target for the big aggressive fish. We like to be housed separately from the rest of the shrimp and fish, but if we are going to be put in the same tank as other fish or shrimp please provide adequate hiding spaces and plants. I might not be compatible with the following: Bee, Black Tiger, Blue Bee, Blue Tiger, Crystal, Golden Bee, (Malaya), Orange Bee, Red Tiger, (Stripe), Tiger, White Bee and Dark Green shrimp