The shrimp have been introduced to each other. 1 male Red with 1 female wild type and 1 female red with 1 male red type. They are held in individual 2.5 gallon bare bottom aquariums with a small sponge filter in each. Java moss has also been added to the aquarium.
Both females are saddled at this time (eggs developing in ovaries). Water changes will be made frequently to encourage breeding behavior and to keep the water quality high.
The next update will come when either a molt from a female is visible (females often breed right after molting) or a female becomes berried. At that time pictures will be taken and placed on this blog.
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As of today I am conducting an experiment with Neocaridina heteropoda. I am going to attempt to describe the genetics of the red coloration found in the Cherry Red Shrimp (Neocaridina heteropoda var. Red). I will be crossing the wild type and the red verity of the Neocaridina heteropoda and then crossing the F1 offspring with the red variant and themselves.
This experiment should show weather the Red gene is a recessive, a double recessive, or another type. I do not believe the gene is sex linked, and do believe it to be a double recessive. Here is the experiment as I plan to conduct it.
Characterization:
What are the genetics of the red coloration of a Cherry Red Shrimp?
Hypothesis:
The Red gene is a double recessive non-sex linked gene.
Predictions:
- Fry of Male Red and Female Wild will all be wild colored. (F1)
- Fry of Female Red and Male Wild will all be wild colored. (F1)
- Offspring of F1 fry mated with Red mated with Red will be ~75% red
- Offspring of F1 mated with another F1 will be ~25% red
Experiment:
- Separate one red male and one wild female into their own tank.
- Separate one red female and one wild male into their own tank.
- Observe offspring for coloration
- If no red coloration is displayed breed offspring (F1)
- Breed F1 male to Red Female
- Breed F1 female to red Male
- Breed F1 male to F1 Female
As the experiment continues I will give updates and include pictures.
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The cherry shrimp (or cherry red shrimp) has been recently described as Neocaridina heteropoda var. red. (Formally Neocaridina denticulata sinensis var. red) This comes as no surprise to those who are active in freshwater aquarium shrimp community. Very little is know scientifically about these shrimp, and as they become more popular in the aquarium hobby more scientist will be looking at them.
So what effect will this have on the hobby? There are many, many shrimp that have not been identified and are often misidentified as the wrong species by importers/exporters. These shrimp are often sold as Rainbow shrimp. For most aquarium hobbyist knowing the correct scientific name is not important, but when shrimp are labeled incorrectly care false care requirements may be passed on to the hobbyist.
So as the hobby grows so will the knowledge base. The correct care requirements will be passed on to the hobbyist and that in turn will help the hobby grow even more.
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