Most shrimp keepers are familiar with Crystal Red shrimp, but have you also met their less common cousin? The black and white colors on the stunning Crystal Black shrimp are sure to liven up any aquarium. They make a great breeding project that can even yield a little profit!

Keep reading for everything you need to know about Crystal Black care and keeping this black and white shrimp in your home aquarium.

Scientific nameCaridina cf. cantonensis var. 'Crystal Black'
Common namesCrystal black shrimp, (black) bee shrimp, CBS
Difficulty levelIntermediate
OriginSouth-East Asia
Crystal black shrimp care & info: keeping Caridina dwarf shrimp in your aquarium #aquatic #pets

Crystal Black shrimp appearance

It's not difficult to recognize a Crystal Black! These dwarf shrimp are one of the many varieties of Caridina cantonensis that resulted from extensive selective breeding by aquarists. They are characterized by the black vertical bands on a white body, which is why they're also known as black bee shrimp.

CBS can reach a maximum size of around 1.5". Like the more popular Crystal Red, they come in various color patterns that vary in rarity and determine their "grade" or "quality". A Crystal Black with more white and more opaque coloration falls into a higher grade, which affects its price. Have a look at the Crystal Red grading chart if you'd like to know more; it also applies to Crystal Black shrimp grades.

Setting up a Crystal Black shrimp aquarium

Requirements

As with most other freshwater shrimp, you don't need a large aquarium to keep Crystal Blacks. Keep in mind that they are quite sensitive and don't react well to low water quality. This means a larger aquarium is better, especially if you're a beginner. A tank of at least 10 gallons is easier to keep stable than smaller setups.

Like all aquariums, a Crystal Black shrimp tank should be fully cycled and established before any livestock is introduced. You need a filter to cycle the tank; most shrimp breeders prefer sponge filters, as these create gentle water flow and won't suck up tiny shrimp fry. Although CBS can handle room temperature just fine, it's still recommended to use a thermostat heater to prevent any temperature fluctuations.

Crystal Black shrimp love plenty of hiding places in the aquarium, especially during molting time when they are vulnerable. Shrimp flats and live plants make great hides while also providing a place for nutritious biofilm to grow, so be sure to incorporate a few in your crystal black tank.

Crystal black shrimp (Caridina cf. cantonensis) | Care & info

Water quality

As discussed earlier, Crystal Black shrimp are a little more sensitive than most common dwarf shrimp. Their ancestor, the bee shrimp, naturally occurs in fast-flowing, clean waters. Selective breeding has made CBS even more sensitive; this especially applies to the higher grades.

All this means you have to keep a close eye on your water values if you want to keep these shrimp alive and happy. The water should be relatively soft and acidic, and always free of ammonia and nitrites. Regular aquarium maintenance is a must, as Crystal Blacks are also quite sensitive to nitrates. Do regular, small water changes to keep the water values where they should be. A liquid test kit allows you to check the status, while a thermometer should be used to make sure the temperature is still correct.

pH: 5.8-7.4

Temperature: 62-76 °F

GH: 4-6

KH: 0-4

Total Dissolved Solids: 100-200

Tankmates

Although there are some options out there when it comes to tankmates for your CBS, most breeders prefer keeping them in single-species setups. This ensures no shrimplets fall prey to hungry fish and the shrimp feel safe to come out into the open.

If you do want to add some more life, other invertebrate species are your safest bet. Snails make great dwarf shrimp tankmates. The same goes for other shrimp species, like the peaceful Amano shrimp and members of the genus Neocaridina. If you're wondering what fish can live with Crystal Black shrimp, unfortunately your options are limited to the absolute most peaceful species (unless you don't mind losing shrimplets from time to time). Dwarf Corydoras or Otocinclus catfish are popular choices.

Crystal black shrimp (Caridina cf. cantonensis) | Care & info

Crystal Black shrimp diet

Crystal Black shrimp are omnivores that thrive on a varied diet. They naturally feed on biofilm that forms on rocks and plants, but in the aquarium their diet should be supplemented. There are many high-quality shrimp foods out there that can be used as a staple.

The possibilities for added variation are endless. Your Crystal Blacks will love frozen foods like mosquito larvae, fresh blanched veggies, algae pellets and even more unusual foods like dried nettle leaves. Botanicals like Indian almond leaves and cholla wood are also a welcome source of food.

Because CBS are so sensitive, all uneaten foods should be removed after a few hours. Any leftovers can quickly start rotting, which is disastrous for your water quality and can damage the shrimp population.

Breeding Crystal Black shrimp

Crystal Black shrimp make a great breeding project and you shouldn't have too much trouble getting your colony to grow. As long as their requirements are met, dwarf shrimp should pretty much constantly produce shrimplets!

The females, which are larger and more brightly colored, carry the eggs between their back legs (swimmerets) for around 30 days before releasing tiny babies that don't need any special care.

Crystal black shrimp (Caridina cf. cantonensis) | Care & info

Frequently asked questions

Can you keep Crystal Red shrimp with Crystal Black shrimp?

You technically can, they're both Caridina cf. cantonensis and will not harm each other. Whether you should is another story. Since they're the same species, the two can interbreed. Some breeders go ahead with it to improve their Crystal Red gene pool, but you have to know a little bit about their genetics and what result you're after. The black trait is dominant, but offspring will carry the recessive red trait.

If you want to avoid the risk of losing track of dwarf shrimp genetics, just keep your CRS and CBS separated.

Can Crystal Black shrimp live with cherry shrimp?

Yep! Cherry shrimp are members of the genus Neocaridina, which neither bothers nor interbreeds with CBS. They actually make great tankmates.

How long do Crystal Black shrimp live?

It depends a lot on water quality and temperature, but CBS lifespan maxes out at around 1.5-2 years. Luckily most colonies expand quickly, so you don't have to worry about ending up without shrimp when they start dying of old age.

Buying Crystal Black shrimp

Crystal Black shrimp are unfortunately a little less common than their Crystal Red cousins, which is a shame because they feature the same decorative patterns and are just as interesting to keep and breed. Because they are less popular, they are also a little more difficult to find, which means your local aquarium store might not carry them.

Luckily there is always the internet - you can buy all sorts of dwarf shrimp from fellow hobbyists or at online stores. The Shrimp Farm sells these black and white shrimp and ships them right to your doorstep! Order your Crystal Blacks here.

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