The Blue Pearl Shrimp is one
of the newer shrimp to the Dwarf Shrimp hobby.
This blue color variant of the Neocaridina cf.
zhangjiajiensis was originally bred in Germany and has
quickly made its way to the American hobby. The
Blue Pearl Shrimp was the first true breeding blue Dwarf
Shrimp. The Snowball Shrimp is another variant of
the Neocaridina cf. zhangjiajiensis.
Blue Pearl Shrimp share
similar care requirements with most other Neocaridina
species, such as the Red
Cherry Shrimp. As long as the Blue Pearl
Shrimp is kept in a well established aquarium with very
stable parameters the Blue Pearl Shrimp is a rather
undemanding Dwarf Shrimp. While the Blue Pearl
Shrimp can adapt to a wide verity of water parameters,
as with most Dwarf Shrimp, stability is key!
Being an omnivore Blue Pearl
Shrimp will eat just about any food found in an
aquarium. They will eat algae in small amounts but
will often times require additional feeding. Most
foods intended for bottom feeders or aquatic
invertebrates make great foods for Blue Pearl Shrimp.
The Blue Pearl Shrimp is
very easy to breed in the home aquarium. As long
as there is a male shrimp and a female shrimp in a well
established, well maintained aquarium they will breed.
Blue Pearl Shrimp are high
order shrimp so the shrimp hatch as miniature
versions of the adult. For a more detailed
description of breeding Blue Pearl Shrimp read the
detailed article about Breeding
Red Cherry Shrimp as they breed in the exact manner.
Blue Pearl Shrimp are
non-aggressive, and are quite active. In an
aquarium that has no predators Blue Pearl Shrimp will
often be observed grazing on algae on aquarium plants,
decorations and on the substrate. When fed, the
shrimp will often form large groups that are quite
striking in appearance.
As with all aquatic
invertebrates it is important to make sure copper does
not get into the aquarium. Copper is toxic to all
Dwarf Shrimp. Many medications contain elevated
levels of copper, so it is recommended not to medicate
an aquarium with Dwarf Shrimp in it.