Crystal Red Shrimp (S-SS Grade)

Common Name: Crystal Red Shrimp, CRS, Bee Shrimp 
Scientific Name: Caridina Cantonensis
Genus: Caridina
Wild Origin: Asia
Adult Size: 1.25in

**Note: All livestock orders will come carefully packaged with solid wall Styrofoam insulation and shipped via 1-day shipping only. No additional insulation is needed for your livestock.

The Crystal Red Shrimp is one of the most popular freshwater shrimp for hobbyists due to its bold, unique coloring and the challenge of raising it. Crystal Red Shrimp require very specific water parameters and near-perfect water quality. They are ideally kept in a Crystal Red Shrimp-only tank because of their precise care needs. However, they are non-aggressive and active shrimp. These shrimp are not recommended for beginners, particularly because their high price point and difficult care requirements mean that there is little room for mistakes. 

Maintaining a successful shrimp tank for Crystal Reds requires a focus on water purity and stability. These shrimp prefer soft, acidic water conditions. Because they are more sensitive than standard freshwater shrimp, they are best kept in a species-only shrimp aquarium where their precise care needs can be met. Water should be changed at least 30% each week, and make sure to dechlorinate the water before adding it to the aquarium. Frequent low-volume changes are preferable to infrequent high-volume changes. Especially at higher grades, these shrimp are extremely sensitive and require careful attention.

Check out our guide on the different substrates that can help achieve ideal water parameters for these shrimp: Best Substrate for Shrimp.

Key Features & Important Notes

• Tank-raised specimen
  
• Bright, bold color and pattern
• Shrimp are excellent scavengers and will happily feed on biofilm, decaying plant matter, and algae
• To increase survival rates, please allow 2-3 business days after placing an order to properly prepare live animal shipments
  

Recommended Water Parameters
Listed information should be treated as general guidelines only. We encourage you to do thorough research before committing to keeping any livestock.

• Temperature Range: 68-74 °F
• pH: 6.6-6.9
• TDS: 130-160 ppm
• GH: 5-7 dGH
• KH: 0-2 dKH

Recommended Tank Size
5+ gallons, minimum. Tank size is relative, and various factors should be considered when determining the optimal tank size.

Diet
Algae, biofilm, diatoms, decaying plant matter, spirulina powder, bee pollen, plant-based shrimp pellets/wafers, blanched vegetables. Supplemental feeding with blanched spinach or calcium-rich wafers will support healthy molting and vibrant coloration

Breeding
Crystal Red Shrimp are eager and prolific breeders. Sexing becomes straightforward at maturity; females are notably larger and display a visible "saddle" behind the head where eggs are stored. To ensure a thriving and self-sustaining colony, we recommend starting with 8–10 specimens to guarantee a mix of males and females.

The breeding cycle begins when a fertile female molts and releases pheromones, triggering the males into an active mating search. Once "berried," she carries the eggs for approximately 2–3 weeks. The fry hatch as fully formed, miniature versions of the adults. Always leave molted shells in the tank; the colony will consume them to recycle essential minerals like calcium for their next growth stage.

Keep in mind that if you are keeping shrimp with other species of fish, or possibly aggressive shrimp species, this may affect reproduction. If the shrimp feel threatened or don’t have places in your tank to hide, they may not breed.

Check out our blog article to learn how to breed freshwater shrimp.