The crystal red shrimp is actually a color variation of the popular bee shrimp. They are the same species, just with a different – and quite striking – color. Hobbyists have obtained this spectacular color through years of selective breeding, much the same way as they have in guppies, bettas and other varieties of fish.

The Amano Shrimp – Caridina japonica is known to be a great challenge for those trying to breed it. After many attempts and lots of reading, I finally managed to to succeed. The tough part was to learn how to do this but once figured out, breeding Amano Shrimp is quite simple. Using this method, I manage to get an average of 20 to 50 successfully mutated juveniles.

Known to the scientific community as Palaemonetes paludosus, the ghost shrimp is often sold as food for cichlids and other carnivorous fish. But these fascinating creatures can also be wonderful and very rewarding members of the community tank. In fact many hobbyists love to add a colony of these unique shrimp to their tanks just to watch their antics.

Species name: Caridina Japonica
Common names: Amano shrimp, Algae Eating Shrimp
Family: Palaemonidae
Order: Eucarida
Class: Malacostracea
Maximum length: 2 in.