Blue Bolt Shrimp (A Grade)

Common Name:  Blue Bolt Shrimp
Scientific Name: Caridina Cantonensis
Genus: Caridina
Wild Origin: South China (Ancestor) / Taiwan (Breed)
Adult Size: 0.75 – 1.25 inches

**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 Blue Bolt Shrimp is a stunning, high-contrast variety of freshwater shrimp that serves as a centerpiece for any experienced hobbyist’s shrimp tank. They are a “mischling”, resulting from cross-breeding Taiwan Bee Shrimp with Crystal Black. This specific lineage produces a brilliant range of blue coloration from intense royal blue to light aquamarine, often featuring white spotting on the tail. High-grade shrimp have blue coloring with more coverage and opacity than a low-grade shrimp. As an "A Grade" specimen, these shrimp exhibit more consistent color coverage and opacity than lower-grade counterparts, making them a premium addition to your aquarium.

Because they are bred for high-intensity color, Blue Bolts are more sensitive to water fluctuations than standard freshwater shrimp. They are not recommended for beginners, as their care requirements allow little room for error. However, for the intermediate to advanced keeper, these shrimp are incredibly rewarding. They are highly active scavengers, constantly grazing on biofilm, diatoms, and algae. In a planted tank, they play a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem by breaking down waste and decaying plant matter.

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
• Be sure to remove any excess food that is left after feeding, as this can increase ammonia and nitrite levels. Excess food means that the shrimp are being overfed, which can damage their health and even kill them.
• 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: 5.6-6.8
• TDS: 100-200 ppm
• GH: 4-6 dGH
• dGH KH: 0-2 dKH

Recommended Tank Size
5+ gallons. While they can live in smaller setups, a larger shrimp aquarium (10-20+ gallons) is recommended to ensure the water parameters remain stable, which is critical for this species

Diet
Omnivorous. They primarily feed on naturally occurring biofilm and algae. Supplemental feeding of plant-based shrimp pellets, blanched vegetables, and mineral-rich foods is recommended every 24–48 hours. Important: Remove uneaten food after 4 hours to prevent ammonia spikes.

Breeding
Sexing Blue Bolt Shrimp can be somewhat difficult until the shrimp begin to mature. Female shrimp have slightly larger tails and display a “saddle” formation on the upper body, behind the head, where eggs are stored before fertilization. When female shrimp are “berried”, or have eggs ready for fertilization, the saddle shape will appear more prominent. Once the shrimp are fully-grown the males will be smaller than the females.

While often labeled as a challenge to breed, Blue Bolts will reproduce frequently if kept in a species-only tank with stable, acidic water. Because they are not aggressive breeders, providing plenty of hiding spots and mosses is essential for fry survival. Do not remove molted shells from the tank; the shrimp will consume them to regain essential minerals like calcium for their own growth.

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