Crystal Red Shrimp (S-SS Grade)

Species Overview

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 iconic and sought-after freshwater shrimp in the hobby thanks to its bold, opaque red-and-white striping. Celebrated for both its striking visual appeal and the rewarding challenge of keeping it, CRS are active, peaceful, and non-aggressive. Higher grades like S-SS Grade showcase intense, solid color coverage with minimal translucent patches. Because they demand precise water parameters and exceptional water purity, they are best suited for seasoned hobbyists looking to build a dedicated, soft-water shrimp aquarium.

Key Features & Important Notes

• Tank-raised S-SS Specimens featuring bold, opaque red and white color bands.
  
• Prefers soft, acidic water conditions with active buffering soil to maintain parameter stability.
• Highly sensitive to water quality changes; best suited for experienced keepers
• Peaceful and non-aggressive, making them ideal centerpiece inhabitants for dedicated species tanks.
• To increase survival rates, please allow 2–3 business days after placing an order to properly prepare live animal shipments.

Care Specifications & Tank Requirements

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. While small setups work, larger volumes offer superior parameter stability for delicate Caridina species.

Diet

Omnivorous. Crystal Red Shrimp graze continuously on biofilm, diatoms, algae, and organic plant matter. Supplement their diet with plant-based shrimp pellets, spirulina powder, bee pollen, and blanched vegetables. Providing calcium-rich wafers or blanched spinach helps support healthy molting cycles and maintains vibrant shell coloration.

Breeding

Crystal Red Shrimp are eager breeders when provided with stable, optimal water parameters. Once mature, females are noticeably larger with a broader underbelly and display a visible "saddle" behind the head. We recommend starting with 8–10 specimens to ensure a healthy male-to-female ratio.

The breeding cycle begins when a fertile female molts and releases pheromones. Once "berried," she carries the eggs for approximately 2–3 weeks. The resulting fry emerge as fully formed, miniature versions of the adults and feed on the same biofilm as the colony. Always leave **molted shells** in the tank so the shrimp can recycle essential minerals like calcium for their next growth stage. Ensure plenty of dense hiding spots, like mosses, are available to maximize fry survival.

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.

Team Buce Plant Tips

If you're new to the hobby, learn the fundamentals with our Freshwater Aquarium Shrimp Care Guide. Before introducing your new livestock into a new tank, learn about the perfect drip rate and timing in 7 Easy Steps to Drip Acclimate Shrimp and Fish. Whether you need active soil or inert sand, you can find the perfect fit to stabilize your parameters in our Best Substrate for Shrimp Guide. When your tank is balanced and your colony is thriving, check out our step-by-step breakdown on How to Breed Freshwater Shrimp.