Bee shrimp (crystal red and crystal black) (Caridina cantonensis) care guide

Group

Shrimp

Other names

Crystal red shrimp, Crystal black shrimp, Red bee shrimp, Black bee shrimp, Bee shrimp, Caridina logemanni, Caridina sp. 'Crystal Red', Golden bee shrimp, Blue bee shrimp

Family

Atyidae

Origin

Streams of southern China and Taiwan; aquarium strains are captive-bred

Water

freshwater

Maximum size

3.2 cm

Temperature

21–26°C

pH

6–7

Hardness

4–6 dGH, 0–2 dKH

Minimum tank

19 litres

Care level

intermediate

Temperament

peaceful

Lifespan

1–2 years

Care

The bee shrimp is a small dwarf shrimp from fast, soft-water streams in southern China and Taiwan. The wild-type black bee has black and white bands, and selective breeding has produced the crystal red (first found as a single red shrimp in Japan in 1996), crystal black, golden bee (white shell over gold-orange flesh), blue bolt, shadow panda, Tangerine Tiger crosses and many more. Crystal reds and blacks are graded by how much solid white they show: the more white, the higher the grade. Females grow larger than males, with a deeper, rounder abdomen, and reach about 3 cm. Names: the shrimp in the hobby are sold as Caridina cantonensis, but some authors place the aquarium bee shrimp in Caridina logemanni, so the name on a label is not settled. All of them interbreed, which is why breeders keep each grade or line in its own tank. Set-up: a mature tank of 20 litres or more with plenty of moss, leaf litter and hiding places. LiveAquaria lists a 5-gallon (19-litre) minimum but advises at least 10 gallons (38 litres), and a larger tank stays steadier. Most keepers use a buffering aqua soil to hold the water soft and slightly acidic, a sponge filter so babies are not sucked in, and keep a colony of ten or more. Bee shrimp are sensitive to sudden changes, so acclimatise them slowly by drip and change small amounts of water often. Water: soft and slightly acidic, pH 6.0–7.0 at 21–26 °C. LiveAquaria quotes a wide carbonate hardness range (dKH 3–10), but most successful breeders keep these shrimp in very soft water with little or no carbonate hardness, which is what the hardness figure above reflects. Colour is said to be best at 24–25 °C; long spells of high temperature raise deaths in adults and young and cut egg survival. Behaviour and role: peaceful and busy, grazing biofilm, algae and decaying leaves all day. Males swim about energetically when a female has just moulted and releases pheromones. They are useful but small-scale algae and detritus eaters rather than a serious clean-up crew. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most other invertebrates. Never dose them in a tank holding this animal, and read the label of any treatment, fertiliser or algae remover before use. Sources: LiveAquaria (liveaquaria.com/products/red-crystal-shrimp); Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caridinacantonensis). Checked October 2026.

Diet

An omnivorous grazer. In the wild it picks at biofilm, algae and small bits of decaying plant matter. In the tank it grazes biofilm on every surface, so a mature tank with leaf litter (Indian almond, oak or beech leaves) matters more than prepared food. Add small amounts of good shrimp pellets, flakes, blanched spinach or nettle, and biofilm or bacteria powders for babies. Feed only what is cleared in a couple of hours; leftover food fouls soft water quickly.

Breeding

Females carry their eggs under the tail, fanning them with their swimmerets. There is no larval stage: the eggs hatch after about 28 days at 22 °C into miniature shrimp that eat the same biofilm and foods as the adults. They breed readily in stable, soft water. Sexing: females are larger with a deep, curved abdomen and a visible saddle of developing eggs behind the head; males are slimmer. Keep grades and colour lines separate, and cull off-colour young if you breed for grade.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful. Best kept in a species tank or with tiny peaceful fish that cannot eat adults, such as otocinclus or very small rasboras, though nearly any fish will eat the babies. Do not mix with Neocaridina (they need different water) or with other Caridina lines you want to keep pure. Snails such as nerites are fine. Avoid any fish big enough to fit a shrimp in its mouth.

Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.