Undoubtedly one of the most popular species in the dwarf shrimp hobby today is Caridina cf. cantonensis var. 'Crystal Red', also simply known as the Crystal Red shrimp or red bee shrimp. Selectively bred from the humble Bee shrimp, Crystal Reds are appreciated for their bright red and white coloration and make a great choice for any shrimp keeper - beginner or expert.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about Crystal Red shrimp care and keeping this dwarf species in your home aquarium!

Scientific nameCaridina cf. cantonensis 'Crystal Red'
Common namesCrystal Red shrimp, (Red) Bee shrimp, CRS, Crystal shrimp
Difficulty levelModerate
OriginSouth-East Asia
Caring for Crystal Red Shrimp #aquatic #pets

Crystal Red shrimp natural habitat

The wild ancestor of the CRS shrimp lacks the typical red and white candy cane pattern: that wouldn't be ideal for camouflage. Instead, it's a duller, translucent sandy color with patterns of reddish-brown dots and dashes. This wild Caridina cantonensis is naturally found in southern China (Guangdong), Hong Kong, Taiwan and maybe also northern Vietnam.

In its natural habitat, this shrimp can be found in small mountain streams.

Setting up a Crystal Red shrimp aquarium

Requirements

A large aquarium is not needed to keep CRS shrimp: a setup as small as 5 gallons (19L) can be enough to sustain a reasonably sized colony. Keep in mind, though, that these shrimp are quite sensitive, and larger tanks are easier to keep stable than smaller ones. Beginners especially might want to go for something around 10 gallons (38L) to make things a little easier.

Like all aquariums, a red bee shrimp tank needs to be filtered. For smaller tanks, a sponge filter might be a good option, as it gently filters the water and can't accidentally suck up any baby shrimp. To keep an eye on your water values and cycle you're also going to need a liquid water test kit. A heater is recommended; although these shrimp do well at room temperature, a thermostat heater can prevent any sudden fluctuations in temperature and help keep things as stable as possible.

Shrimp are naturally prey animals and spend most of their time foraging. They will appreciate some plants and other decorations to hide in and eat algae and aufwuchs off.

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

Water quality

Crystal Red shrimp are a bit more demanding when it comes to water values than Neocaridina species like the popular cherry shrimp. They are a little more fragile, not in the least due to extensive selective breeding, so skipping water changes is out of the question if you want to keep them alive and healthy.

Like all shrimp and fish, this species should never be introduced into an uncycled aquarium, as they are extremely sensitive to ammonia and nitrite. They don't cope well with high nitrate values either, so keep up with your water changes and perform water tests frequently to make sure the water values are still where they're supposed to be. Apart from being in the right range, water values and temperature should be stable at all times, as sudden fluctuations can quickly prove fatal.

Like their Bee shrimp ancestors, red bees do best in relatively soft and slightly acidic water. They don't appreciate very warm water: keep temperatures between 62-76 °F (16.5-24.5 °C).

pH: 5.8-7.4

Temperature: 62-76 °F (16.5-24.5 °C)

gH: 4-6

kH: 0-4

TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): 100-200

Tankmates

If you're wondering what can live with Crystal Reds, it's important to keep in mind that like all dwarf shrimp, these are quite vulnerable. It's best to avoid combining them with all but the most peaceful tankmates if you want to avoid them ending up as fish dinner.

Most shrimp keepers actually choose to set up a CRS shrimp-only tank, especially for the higher and more expensive grades, but you could add other compatible shrimp species or harmless tankmates like snails.

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

Crystal Red shrimp diet

What do Crystal red shrimp eat?

Red bee shrimp diet is similar to that of most dwarf shrimp. They are omnivores that naturally spend most of their time foraging and eating anything they can find. In the aquarium, they'll feed on algae and aufwuchs; because an aquarium environment is too clean to contain enough food to sustain them, you'll have to supply additional options regularly.

How often should I feed Crystal Red shrimp?

You can feed your Crystal Reds once a day, though some variation in feeding frequency is a good idea. Because they are omnivores, they will accept a wide range of food: try offering a high-quality shrimp food as a staple and adding some variation with blanched vegetables and frozen foods like bloodworms.

Important! As discussed earlier, CRS shrimp are very sensitive. Never offer more than they can consume in a few hours. Remove any uneaten foods timely to prevent problems with water values.

Breeding Crystal Red shrimp

Breeding is what it's all about for most Crystal Red shrimp keepers: producing high-grade shrimp can be very rewarding and some even make a little money off selling their homebred Crystal Reds.

As long as water parameters are where they're supposed to be and all other care requirements are being met, CRS shrimp are not difficult to breed at all. Females will quickly start carrying eggs, which hatch after around 30 days to reveal tiny versions of the parents. These tiny shrimplets don't need extra care, though some shrimp keepers choose to feed powdered baby shrimp foods. Once the fry have grown a little you can determine their grade and pattern and decide what you want to do with them.

If you're unsure whether a Crystal Red is male or female, compare its size to the other shrimp. Females will be larger than males. Their belly section will also be larger and more curved in order to protect the eggs while they are developing.

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

Crystal Red shrimp grading

Crystal Red shrimp have been selectively bred into many different color patterns. Depending on color distribution and intensity, a shrimp can fall into different grades, which influences price and 'quality'. Generally speaking, a CRS shrimp with more white and more opaque coloration falls into a higher grade.

Sound complicated? No worries! Everything you need to know about grading Crystal Reds can be found in the Crystal Red shrimp grading article.

Frequently asked questions

How big do Crystal Red shrimp get?

Red bee shrimp are a dwarf shrimp species, which means they are very small. Their exact adult size depends on sex: males stay much smaller than the females. The maximum size for a male is around 1", while females max out at 1.5".

How often do Crystal Red shrimp molt?

Molting frequency in shrimp and other crustaceans is largely dependent on age. A baby CRS will molt almost daily in the beginning to accommodate its quick growth. Once they reach adulthood, they'll slow down a lot, molting every 3-4 weeks.

It's not unusual for your shrimp to hide for a bit during molting time. It's always a little alarming when you can't find them, but don't worry! They just feel vulnerable until their fresh carapace hardens and instinctively stay in a quiet spot to avoid predators.

Are Crystal Red shrimp hard to care for?

This is of course very subjective, but throughout the years, we've never had much trouble keeping our CRS alive. Even plenty of beginning shrimp enthusiasts have been able to keep them without issue.

Are they a bit more sensitive than cherry shrimp? Yes, Caridina shrimp care in general is a little more demanding, especially the higher grades. However, if you follow the guidelines provided, your colony should do absolutely fine.

How long until Crystal Red shrimp breed?

We've found that it takes around 70 days for CRS to reach adulthood and start breeding. This quick turnover explains how a colony can grow so rapidly!

How long do Crystal Red shrimp live?

A healthy CRS will live for about 1.5 years in the aquarium, although your mileage may vary. Water quality and water temperature (warmth speeds up their life cycle) play a big part in this.

Crystal Red shrimp for sale

CRS shrimp are relatively popular and you should be able to find them in most aquarium stores, although quality often varies and shrimp might be graded and named incorrectly.

You can also buy Crystal Red shrimp online from The Shrimp Farm with guaranteed live arrival.

Cai, Y., & Ng, N. K. (1999). A revision of the Caridina serrata species group, with descriptions of five new species (Crustacea: Decapoda: Caridea: Atyidae). Journal of Natural History, 33(11), 1603-1638.