Cardinal shrimp (Caridina dennerli) care guide

Group
Shrimp
Other names
Sulawesi cardinal shrimp, Sulawesi shrimp, Matano cardinal shrimp
Family
Atyidae
Origin
Endemic to Lake Matano, Sulawesi, Indonesia (rocky shores, surface to about 10 m)
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
2.5 cm
Temperature
27–30°C
pH
7.2–7.8
Hardness
3–6 dGH, 2–5 dKH (lake about 220 µS/cm)
Minimum tank
40 litres
Care level
expert
Temperament
peaceful

Care

The cardinal shrimp is a small dwarf shrimp from Lake Matano on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. It was described in 2009 and named after the German aquarium firm Dennerle, which supported the expedition that found it. Adults are deep red with small white spots scattered over the body and legs, and they reach about 2.5 cm, females being larger with a deeper carapace than males. Conservation: the species is listed by the IUCN as critically endangered and possibly extinct in the wild. None have been recorded in the lake since 2013, after pollution from nickel mining, hydro-electric works and introduced fish such as flowerhorn cichlids. Buy only captive-bred stock; aquarium populations may now be its best hope. Tank set-up: a mature, stable tank of 40 litres or more, with plenty of rock, caves and crevices to imitate the lake's rocky shores. Lake Matano is ultra-clear and extremely poor in nutrients, so the shrimp do best in very clean water with low nitrate, gentle filtration (a sponge filter is ideal) and no fertilisers. Keep a group of eight or more; they are shy and show better colour and behaviour in numbers. Water: warm, around 27–30 °C, matching the lake's 27–31 °C. The lake water is slightly alkaline (pH about 7.4) and soft with a low mineral content (about 224 µS/cm), so most keepers use remineralised RO water made up for Sulawesi shrimp. The species is sensitive to swings in water quality, so make changes small and steady, and drip-acclimatise new shrimp over an hour or more. Behaviour and feeding: peaceful and mostly busy on rock surfaces, picking at biofilm. In the wild it is thought to feed on detritus; in aquariums it does best in an established, mature tank where it can graze all day on biofilm and microscopic life. Overfeeding fouls the water quickly. Tankmates: best in a species tank or with other Sulawesi animals that share the same warm, soft water, such as Tylomelania rabbit snails. Avoid fish big enough to eat them. Copper: copper-based medicines and some plant fertilisers are toxic to shrimp, snails and most invertebrates. Never dose them in a tank holding this animal, check the label of any treatment or fertiliser, and use a separate hospital tank for fish. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caridinadennerli). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Mainly a grazer of biofilm, algae films and detritus on rocks. Supplement sparingly with fine shrimp foods, powdered biofilm foods, spirulina and the occasional tiny portion of protein food. Feed only what is eaten within a couple of hours and remove leftovers, because the species needs very clean water. Botanicals such as dried leaves are less useful than for other Caridina because the native lake is nutrient-poor and clear.

Breeding

Females carry relatively large eggs under the abdomen, and the young hatch as tiny fully formed shrimp (direct development) in fresh water, so no brackish stage is needed. Broods are small and breeding is slow; success depends on very stable, clean water at the right temperature. Females are larger with a deeper carapace than males. Because the species may no longer exist in the wild, captive breeding of this shrimp is valuable.

Compatibility and tank mates

Peaceful and very small, so it can be eaten by almost any fish large enough to fit it in its mouth. Best kept alone or with Sulawesi rabbit snails and other Sulawesi shrimp that need the same warm, soft, alkaline water. Do not mix with Neocaridina or bee shrimp, which need different water. Harmless to plants and other invertebrates.

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

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