For shrimp breeding enthusiasts, knowing which shrimps are compatible enough to share a tank is essential to the scheme of their setup. After all, housing different shrimp species together means purchasing and cleaning fewer tanks! But what about Crystal Red and Black shrimp—can they live together in the same tank?
You can keep Crystal Red and Black shrimp together. That’s because they’re both the same species: Caridina cantonensis. Even so, you must ensure the tank where you house both shrimps meet certain conditions first, like the right tank parameters.
This article will discuss the ideal setup for keeping Crystal Red and Black shrimp housed together in the same tank. Read on to learn more!
Crystal Red and Black Shrimp Can Live Together
To know whether or not you can house two different shrimp species together, you simply have to look at their name. If the shrimp are entirely different species, they should not be housed together in the same tank.
In the case of the Crystal Red and Black shrimp, these shrimps are the same species, meaning they can live together. But as discussed earlier, the tank for housing these shrimp must be suitable for them—with the right tank parameters—ensuring the shrimp can thrive and remain happy.
The Tank Parameters Must Be Right for the Shrimp To Thrive
Probably the number one cause of shrimp death among shrimp enthusiasts is the condition of the tank water. Shrimp are very fragile. Tank water at an improper temperature will kill them quickly, as well as tank water that is full of excess waste.
The first thing to keep in mind is that Crystal Reds are more sensitive than Crystal Blacks. So when setting up water parameters, you will want to prioritize the needs of the Crystal Reds. But that doesn’t mean you should ignore your Crystal Blacks entirely!
If you can maintain proper water parameters that will meet the needs of both shrimp, they can live together comfortably.
The following parameters are ideal for keeping your Crystal Red and Black shrimp alive:
- gH – 4-6
- kH – 3-4
- TDs – 150-200
- pH – 6.5-7 (CRS like more soft water)
- Temperature – 22-24°C (71.6-75°F)
You Can Cross-Breed the Crystal Red and Black Shrimp
Crystal Reds and Crystal Blacks are the same species, so they can more definitely be bred. They are different colors the way some humans have blonde hair, and others have red: same species, different features.
You can predict the appearance of the offspring by using a Punnett Square. The Punnett Square is a method of predicting offspring. For instance, we know from the Punnett Square that the dominant gene is in the black shrimp, and the recessive gene is in the red shrimp.
So if a Crystal Red and a Crystal Black cross-breed, the offspring will more than likely be black with a recessive red gene.
Using the Punnett Square, you can calculate many possible combinations of offspring. However, you will find that the odds of producing Crystal Reds is significantly less at 19%. But this doesn’t mean you’ll never have red shrimp, just that the black offspring will always outnumber the reds!
Crystal Red Shrimp Are More Popular Than the Black Shrimp
Crystal Red shrimp are more popular than their cousins, the Crystal Black shrimp. That also means they are easier to obtain. On the other hand, Crystal Black shrimp aren’t nearly as popular and will be harder to find if you wish to purchase them from a local breeder.
Thankfully, the internet can help you make your search easier. You can search for a local breeder online who can sell you Crystal Black shrimp and offer you overnight shipping.
Crystal Black Shrimp Are Especially Great for Beginners
Crystal Black shrimp are a black mutation of the Bee shrimp, though it’s unclear whether they morphed directly from the wild Orange Bee of the Crystal Red. They follow the same grading scale as the Crystal Red shrimp, “grade” here, meaning the amount of red to white or black in the shrimp’s coloring. Grade, however, has no bearing on the shrimp’s quality.
Shrimp breeders often refer to Crystal Blacks as CBS for short. If you purchase from an online breeder, you will receive a colony of sub-adults at about half an inch (1.27 cm) in length. The shrimp will have either an S or an SS grade pattern.
Crystal Blacks are easy to raise and perfect for beginner enthusiasts and breeders. They are low maintenance compared to other shrimp, requiring a lower PH and being able to survive in conditions slightly more alkaline.
If you’re going to keep Crystal Blacks alone to start, the following tank parameters are recommended by breeders:
- pH – 6.6-6.9
- kH – 0-2
- gH – 5-7
- TDS – 130-160
- Temperature – 68-74°C (154.4-165°F)
Conclusion
In conclusion, Crystal Black shrimp and Crystal Red shrimp can indeed live together. They are different variations of the same species, so they won’t harm each other and even cross-breed!