Blue Bolt Extreme Shrimp

Common Name: Blue Bolt Extreme Shrimp, Blue Bolt Extreme
Scientific Name: Caridina Cantonensis "Blue Bolt"
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.

While standard Blue Bolts freshwater shrimp often feature a white-to-blue gradient, the Extreme variant is selectively bred for total, opaque color saturation. These specimens exhibit a deep, consistent royal blue or electric blue hue across the entire body, including the head, tail, and swimmerets. Due to their intense pigmentation and "Full Blue" coverage, they are among the most striking and coveted aquatic pets for the high-end shrimp tank. 

Maintaining Blue Bolt Extreme shrimp is a task for the dedicated hobbyist. As a highly bred variety of Taiwan Bee, they demand absolute water stability. To prevent dangerous pH swings in these soft-water conditions, an active buffering substrate is essential for this shrimp tank. Their bold, solid coloration provides an unparalleled contrast against light-colored sands or bright green aquatic plants.

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: 68–76°F
• pH: 6.0-6.5
• TDS: 100-150
• GH: 3-5
• KH: 0-2
  

Recommended Tank Size
5+ gallons, minimum. Tank size is relative, and various factors should be considered when determining tank size. For "Extreme" varieties, we recommend a slightly larger volume than a standard nano tank to ensure water chemistry remains locked in, protecting your investment.

Diet
Algae, biofilm, diatoms, decaying plant matter, spirulina powder, bee pollen, plant-based shrimp pellets/wafers, blanched vegetables.

Breeding
Blue Bolt Extreme shrimp can be bred, but they require pristine conditions to encourage spawning. Sexing is easier as they mature; females are larger with a more developed underbelly. To establish a strong breeding colony of these elite aquarium shrimp, we recommend starting with 8–10 specimens.

The breeding cycle begins when a fertile female molts and releases pheromones, triggering the males into an active search. Once "berried," she will carry the eggs for 20–30 days. The fry are self-sufficient from birth, but because they are highly bred, they are more sensitive than other species. Ensure your tank is well-seasoned with plenty of biofilm and moss. Always leave molted shells in the tank to allow the colony to recycle the calcium necessary for healthy growth.

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.