How Long Do Crystal Red Shrimp Eggs Take To Hatch?

Crystal red shrimp is one of the most popular exquisite shrimp species to keep in a home aquarium but are extremely difficult to breed. If you’re trying to breed them and the female has already laid the eggs, it may be a few weeks before you see the baby shrimp.

Crystal red shrimp eggs take around 30 days or 4 weeks to hatch in the right environment. Fully formed shrimp will come out of the eggs and begin swimming immediately after hatching. Crystal red shrimp are very sensitive, so slight changes in water temperature will affect when they hatch.

In this article, I’ll explain how long crystal red shrimp eggs take to hatch and discuss the ideal incubation conditions. I’ll also give you tips on breeding these shrimp and taking care of the hatchlings.

How Long Do Crystal Red Shrimp Eggs Take To Hatch?

How Long is the Incubation Period for Crystal Red Shrimp?

The incubation period is about a month for crystal red shrimp eggs if the water pH and temperature are ideal. The female shrimp will carry the eggs in a pound under her abdomen, and juvenile shrimp will hatch after 3-4 weeks.

Water temperature is the main factor affecting the incubation duration of crystal red shrimp eggs. The ideal temperature for their incubation is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the shrimp eggs will have a better hatching success rate in cooler water. Temperature fluctuations or a water temperature that’s too high can also affect the eggs’ development.

Check this YouTube video on how to control the water temperature in your home aquarium:

Female red crystal shrimp lay around 30-50 eggs at a time, and most of them usually hatch. However, the hatchlings are also quite sensitive, and you’ll have to monitor the water temperature and pH carefully if the tank has hatchlings.

How To Breed Crystal Red Shrimp

Breeding crystal red shrimp isn’t for inexperienced breeders as these shrimp are very sensitive and will only breed in the right conditions. Breeding these shrimp can be divided into the pre and post-incubation periods.

Pre-Incubation

Crystal red shrimp will breed naturally when there are a few males and females in a group. The female will release certain chemicals when she’s ready to mate. After mating occurs, the female will lay eggs and carry them between her legs under the abdomen.

Before copulation occurs, you can keep the water temperature at around 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Reduce the temperature by one or two degrees once the female lays her eggs. Once 1-2 weeks have passed, place the female in a separate nursery tank, so the other shrimp don’t prey on the hatchlings.

You can move the female back to the original tank when the eggs have hatched.

Post Incubation

Once the eggs have hatched, you should lower the water temperature to around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This will reduce the hatchlings’ mortality rates and ensure that they grow stronger. The only downside is that they experience slower growth in cooler water.

There’s no need to feed the hatchlings special foods as they will be able to find food immediately after hatching. Hatchlings usually have undefined colors and will grow for about 4 months before they reach maturity.

What To Do if Your Crystal Red Shrimp Aren’t Hatching

Crystal red shrimp should take 30-35 days to hatch at most. Some may hatch in around 3 weeks if the conditions are ideal. However, if 4 weeks have passed since the female lays the eggs and the shrimp still don’t hatch, there’s a chance they have died or may need more time to develop.

Check the eggs’ color after 4 weeks. If they turn lighter, it means that the shrimp are developing and will hatch soon. You’ll also be able to see the hatchlings’ eyes after a few weeks. If this is the case, you’ll simply have to wait a few more days for the shrimp eggs to hatch.

If the eggs don’t hatch, there’s no need to remove them from the female’s belly. They will usually come off in the female’s next molting cycle.

Unfortunately, even though all red crystal shrimp will carry fertile eggs, improper water temperature and pH levels are the main causes of eggs not hatching.

Conclusion

Crystal red shrimp are expensive, especially those that fall into higher grades, making them ideal for breeding. When breeding these shrimp, you’ll have to take special care of the shrimp’s diet and the water temperature, pH level, and nutrient concentration in the tank.

They should take around 3-5 weeks to hatch under optimal temperatures, but be prepared to wait a few more days. Also, to get better grades of red crystal shrimp, it’s better to let the hatchlings grow in cooler water.