Krewetki w akwarium słodkowodnym

Shrimps from Atydae family, type Caridina. In this type we have two species: Caridina and closely related with them Neocaridina.

Caridina and Neocaridina species are small, 2 - 4 cm. Some strains show quite big differences in shape, what suggest that they came out of mix between different species. They come from Africa and tropical and subtropical parts of Asia. Some of them can be found on west pacific islands. Differences between Caridina and Neocaridina are generally unnoticeable with bare eye. As one of the most important trait Neocaridina are round endopods (ending part of legs) of males' first pair of legs. Caridina have them elongated.

We should make sure that conditions in our tanks allow our small friends to have good live and mood. Water in tank must be rich in oxygen. It is very important that sponge in filter had as small size as possible, because young shrimps are very small and might get swallowed by filter. Filters with standard sponges are generally too big. Other (especially good with bucket filters) solution is to put stocking on a sponge. Stable and often changed water in tank is a guarantee of nice pigmentation. Water should be rather soft, but harder (to 10 GH) will be tolerated, there should also be acidic reaction. Shrimps of this kind are sensitive to overheating, temperature shouldn't be higher than 28 C degrees, best will be 22 - 25 C. Water should consist as few as possible nitrates and phosphates. Caridina Japonica is most resistant to water parameters changes and that's why it is recommended to fight algae in freshly made tanks. Other species like ones from serrata group should be placed in more stabile water.

Chemical add to water should be used very carefully. If we don't know chemical typesetting of it it's better not to use it at all. Well known is sensitivity offal ten legs animals to metals conjunctions (especially copper) melted in water. There are opinions that water clearers based on tiosulfur sodium are also harmful. Their work bases on coagulating some conjunctions. This created gel glues shrimps and enables them to eat (especially to shrimps from atya and atyopsis species, which are described in other article). After using such fluid shrimps hide and spend all time on cleaning legs and abdomen.

Usually Caridina shrimps are not afraid of open water, but after moultation they are more delicate and during this time (1 - 3 days) they need peaceful hideouts. Those can be slots under roots and stones etc. Caridina and Neocaridina feel best in group of at least 20 - 30. In very small tanks (below 20 liters) you can keep smaller number of them. Tanks should be decorated with roots, bleech and oak leafs, yearn peat. You should be careful when buying lignite, because they might contain pyrites and other harmful ads. Small leafs plants will be best for example: Java moss (Vesicularia or Fontinalis), algae like Cladophora, which will be intensively clean. Shrimps like sand substrate and they present best on it. They are not afraid of strong light, but they feel good also with little light. Some species might try to escape from tank, so it's better to cover tank.

Caridina and Neocaridina are not dangerous for other animals in tank, they don't attack fish or snails. They are the one who need to be protected. Aggressive species of shrimps and bigger fishes are not suitable to keep with them. So if we want to keep shrimps in tank we should accompany them with peaceful fishes and absolutely no rapture shrimps like Macrobrachium. Without problems they coexist with Atya and Atyopsis shrimps, but some say that newly born caridina/neocaridina might be eaten by filtrating shrimps.

Natural food of these shrimps are generally algae's and leafs of plant which have tannic (in Poland leafs of oaks, bleeches). Lignite and cellulose in roots seems to be essential part of diet. In tanks they eat very good aliments with carotenoids and spirulin. They shouldn't be fed with meat food.

Most of Caridina shrimps have higher type of breeding and it's not complicated to get offspring from them in general tank. Copulation takes place rather rarely so if you want to see it you have to spend quite some time on observation. Male "sits" on a female and they can wonder among aquarium like that for some time. Sex organs of male are placed on two first pairs of swimming legs. Special side parts and ads of these legs are sex organs. Using them male places his sperm in female. Looking at transparent species you can see eggs being produce in her body. So far experiences show that breeding of most species doesn't go all the time. Usually it ends after couple of times, and than something like overexploitations takes place. It is typical for Caridina sp "Crystal Red" and common shrimps (Caridina sp. Biene). Most of species come from rather cold mountain rivers. There are season's changes, with warmer summer months and in this rhythm goes breeding. Stimulating factor will be increasing temperature after time of keeping them in lower temperature (Andreas Karge Aquarisic Aktuall 2004), changing water parameters, more rain and food. If it won't work probably shrimp won't ever breed again. Sometimes parameters change (more fresh water with addition of minerals and vitamins, increasing temperature) makes shrimp to start breeding again. Tanks usually have term regulated heaters and we regulate water temperature, but the problem is not increasing temperature but to put it to 17-19 C for longer. That's why too keep breeding shrimps for longer time it is suitable to keep them in groups 20 - 30 shrimps big.
Small ones eat same food as grown ups, it's best to secure enough algae's in tank, eventually they can be fed with artificial aliments with spirulin. Most of fishes will treat small shrimps as a snack so it's better to keep them in separated tank. Caridina shrimps don't eat their babies.

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