How To Tell if a Crystal Red Shrimp Is Male or Female

Are you one of those wondering how to spot the difference between a male and a female Crystal Red shrimp species? If you answered yes, then I have a quick answer for you.

You can tell if a Crystal Red shrimp is male or female from the body’s size, the antennae’s length, and the abdomen. But if they all look the same in your eyes, wait for about two months after hatching. They will be mature enough to breed, and the differences will be more apparent.

The difference between the sexes can be quite difficult to define at the early stage of growth. While these differences become more evident as the shrimps mature, you may need to know a bit earlier. In this article, we’ll look at how you can get this information and you’ll learn some quick tips on how to care for Crystal Red shrimps.

How To Tell if a Crystal Red Shrimp Is Male or Female Left is a female and other is a male — How To Tell if a Crystal Red Shrimp Is Male or Female (left is the Female)

1. Body Size

A mature female Crystal Red shrimp is larger than a mature male. Usually, the species do not grow too big because they are categorized as dwarfs. A full-grown adult male does not grow beyond 1 inch (2.54 cm). And the maximum length of a full-grown adult female is 1.5 inches (3.81 cm).

2. The Abdomen

The abdomen (underbelly section) of a female Crystal Red shrimp is big and curvy. This is because females carry their eggs in the abdomen. Males are not equipped to carry out this function. As a result, their underbellies are flat or have a triangular shape.

The female’s abdomen will remain curved even after the eggs have hatched. The reproduction process expands the abdomen so it can never look as flat as the males.

Additionally, the curved underbelly of the females influences the shape of their backs. They tend to bend inwards to support the skeletal structure.

3. Length of the Antennae

Crystal Red shrimps have antennas for detecting light, food, and danger. The male species have long antennae, while the females have short antennae. This might be a little tricky, but if you look closely, you will spot the difference.

Crystal Red Shrimp Care Tips

Caridina cf. cantonensis, popularly known as Crystal Red shrimp, is one of the most sought-after dwarf shrimp species. It is beginner friendly and thrives well in freshwater aquariums.

Although this species is beginner-friendly, there are essential care guidelines to follow.

Tank Set-Up

You can keep Crystal Red shrimps in a 5-gallon (18.93-liter) tank if you want to raise a small number of shrimps. But the recommended size for beginners is a 10-gallon (37.85-liter) tank. Since the species are fragile, a large tank offers more room for the shrimps to move around and forage.

Crystal Red shrimps love natural vegetation as it provides both shelter and food. Consider adding some aquarium plants like mosses and water ferns. You can also add some rocks or stones that will serve as hiding spots and encourage algae growth for feeding.

Install a filter that won’t suck up the shrimps. Since Crystal Red shrimps are small-sized, a sponge filter will be more appropriate. It filters the water gently and maintains the beneficial bacteria.

Water Conditions

The water conditions should mimic the conditions loved by the Crystal Red shrimp’s ancestors – the Bee shrimp. This species is found in many freshwater rivers in Taiwan, where the waters are slightly acidic (5.8 – 7.4).

The species thrive in warm water. Therefore, ensure the water temperature is maintained at between 65 – 78 °F (18.3 – 25.6 °C). If you live in a cold region, use a heater to achieve the optimum temperature.

Additionally, Crystal Red shrimps can’t survive in waters with a high level of nitrite and ammonia. To prevent mortality, check the quality of the tank water regularly. You can also change about 20% of the water every two weeks. But ensure that the total dissolved solids (TDS) are between 100 – 200.

Feeding

Crystal Red shrimps are omnivores, making feeding them very easy. They can feed on algae, small insects, and organic debris that falls into the aquarium. You can supplement their diet with algae wafers and pellets that contain calcium for growing new shells. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid overfeeding the shrimps.

Additionally, Crystal Red shrimps feed on blanched vegetables such as cucumbers, peas, broccoli, and zucchini. They also love bloodworms. Remember to remove any leftover food in the aquarium to avoid decay.

Conclusion

Without a doubt, Crystal Red shrimps beautify any aquarium. We’ve looked at how to identify them, noting that it’s easiest to do so when they are mature enough to reproduce. We’ve also looked at a few tips for caring for this species. You should be better equipped to take care of your Crystal red shrimps with the information you’ve received.