Caridina shrimp has various color patterns. There is sharp bands, solid blocks of color, and intricate color pattern. The color patterns of Caridina shrimp depend on the genetics of the Caridina shrimp and the conditions provide to the Caridina shrimp.
To properly identify and purchase quality Caridina shrimp, it is first important to understand the difference between quality Caridina shrimp and average Caridina shrimp. Using a color reference can aid in the identification of the quality of Caridina shrimp. The chart display the most popular varieties of Caridina shrimp.
Caridina Shrimp Color, Grades and Care
For each variety, the chart displays the color intensity, pattern coverage, and rarity of the Caridina shrimp. For example, by looking at the varieties of Crystal Red Caridina shrimp, you can understand why one specimen of the Caridina shrimp is more visual intense than another specimen of the same Caridina shrimp variety. The same is true of Taiwan Bee Caridina shrimp, such as Blue Bolt and Shadow Panda Caridina shrimp.
The blue coloration and the black and white markings of these two Caridina shrimp varieties are only visually valuable if the opacity of the coloration is consist along the body of the shrimp. A visual reference of these various color patterns allow for the identification of these differences between the various types of Caridina shrimp. In addition to displaying the differences in color between the various Caridina shrimp varieties, the chart also explain the grading systems of Caridina shrimp.
SSS grade Caridina shrimp have full opaque color throughout their bodies and have no translucency in their colors. An SSS grade Caridina shrimp will also have sharp, clean edge to its color patterns. If a Caridina shrimp is one grade lower than SSS grade, then the Caridina shrimp will have slight bleeding of its colors or the Caridina shrimp may have faint see-through area along their sides.
Understanding this grading system will allow for individuals who intend to purchase Caridina shrimp to understand the potential color quality of the Caridina shrimp prior to making there purchase. The genetics of Caridina shrimp will determine the physical trait of the offspring created from those parent Caridina shrimp. Caridina shrimp traits can be dominant or recessive.
For traits to be dominant only one copy of the gene is required for the trait to be express. For traits to be recessive, both copies of the gene of each parent must contain the recessive trait for the offspring to have that trait. Line breeding is used to tighten the traits of the Caridina shrimp species over time.
Line breeding, however, introduces a narrowing of the genetic pool of the Caridina shrimp. When breeding, careful selection of which Caridina shrimp will breed with which other Caridina shrimp are required. While the chart does not list every possible cross breeding of Caridina shrimp, the patterns of Caridina shrimp patterns listed on the chart allow for the understanding of how these breed were created.
For example, the fishbone and Hinomaru patterns are the result of breeding efforts of breeders who noticed Caridina shrimp with these trait and cross bred them with other Carina shrimp with the same color traits. Water chemistry have an impact on the development of the coloration of Caridina shrimp. Caridina shrimp are genetically healthy in areas of water that are cooler and soft.
Caridina shrimp require low level of dissolved solids in the water and active buffering substrates. The water parameters displayed on the chart keep the levels of ammonia in the tank to zero and maintain a stable pH level of the water. Should the water parameters of the tank in which the Caridina shrimp are residing slip from the standards listed on the chart, even the most genetically robust Caridina shrimp will lose the saturation of there color.
Caridina shrimp also tend to experience stress if the water temperature of the tank is increased beyond the preferred temperature range of Caridina shrimp. Stressed Caridina shrimp rarely express there best coloration. Additionally, many of those who own a population of Caridina shrimp tend to neglect the water parameters of the tank in which the Caridina shrimp live in favor of providing rare morph of Caridina shrimp to there tanks.
Breeding strategies depend upon the visual standards of the desired coloration of the Caridina shrimp as well as the water in which the Caridina shrimp live. For example, pure line breeding can be used to maintain the traits of the Caridina shrimp population. To perform pure line breeding, breeders cross Caridina shrimp of the highest grade within a certain type with one another.
Cross line breeding with compatible varieties of Caridina shrimp may yield new color varieties; however, there is no standard for the outcome of cross line breeding efforts. Selective culling is a process by which breeders can remove the offspring with the lower grade of Caridina shrimp from breeding with other Caridina shrimp; over time this strategy will raise the grade of the entire breeding population. None of these breeding strategies, however, will be successful if the water parameters of the breeding tank are permitted to drift from the standard parameter required of Caridina shrimp; none of these strategies will be successful if the Caridina shrimp are lacking proper nutrition or proper hiding place within the breeding tank.
When shopping for Caridina shrimp, it is important to use the color standards listed on the chart. The first of the standards to inspect for is solid opacity of the Caridina shrimps colors. Another standard is that the boundaries of the colors of the Caridina shrimp should be sharp and not blurry.
Lastly, observing the behavior of the Caridina shrimp can provide information regarding the quality of the Caridina shrimp. For example, if the Caridina shrimp exhibit active foraging behavior, they are likely healthy enough to maintain their coloration. Similarly, berried female is an indicator that the entire population of Caridina shrimp are established and reproduce regularly.
A color reference allows for identification of Caridina shrimp according to the standards listed on the chart. With a color reference, individuals will no longer have to guess as to whether a Caridina shrimp specimen is exhibiting pale color or of a lower grade than others. Additionally, individuals will be able to recognize the difference between a project specimen and a finished Caridina shrimp specimen.
This ability to recognize these differences will change how individuals stock their tank with Caridina shrimp and allow them to better evaluate there existing populations of Caridina shrimp.
