Crystal Black shrimp is a species of freshwater aquarium shrimp. They are a relatively new species and are native to Taiwan. This is a beautiful shrimp that has a black body with white spots. They are a very popular shrimp in the aquarium trade.
Crystal Black Shrimp Key Care Stats
| Scientific name: | Caridina cf. cantonensis |
| Common name: | Crystal Black shrimp, CBS, Bee shrimp |
| Coloration: | Black with white spots |
| Size: | 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) |
| Care level: | Easy |
| Tank size: | 10 gallons |
| Water pH: | 6.0–8.0 |
| Temperature: | 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) |
| Compatibility: | Community tanks |
| Best kept: | In groups of 5 or more |
| Lifespan: | 2–3 years |
| Diet: | Omnivore |
| Temperament: | Peaceful |
Species Summary
Crystal Black shrimp are one of the most popular freshwater shrimp for the aquarium trade. They are known for their striking coloration and are often kept as ornamental shrimp. Here is some basic information about Crystal Black Bee shrimp care.
Where do They Come From?
Crystal Black shrimp are native to southern China and Taiwan. They were first introduced to the aquarium trade in 2006. In the wild, they can be found living amongst submerged rocks and debris in areas with little to no current. The water in their natural habitat is typically clear and has a neutral to slightly acidic pH.
How Long do Crystal Black Bee Shrimp Live for?
The average lifespan of a Crystal Black bee shrimp is 2 – 3 years. However, with proper care, they can live up to 5 years. This species is known to be very sensitive to water conditions and will not tolerate even the slightest change in water parameters. So, if you want your shrimp to reach their full potential lifespan, you must be diligent in maintaining stable water conditions.
How Big do Crystal Black Shrimp Grow?
The average size of a full-grown Crystal Black shrimp is between 1.5 – 2 inches (4 – 5 cm). This species can grow larger if the water conditions are ideal. Also, it is worth mentioning that females are typically larger than males.
Black Bee Shrimp Anatomy, Appearance, & Varieties
Crystal Black Bee shrimp is a beautiful variation of shrimp that is a little more difficult to care for than other species of shrimp. They are a very slow-growing species and can take up to one year to reach full maturity. CBS can live for over 4 years with proper care.
Black shrimp are omnivorous and will eat a variety of both plant and animal matter. In the wild, their diet consists of algae, detritus, and small invertebrates. In captivity, they can be fed a variety of foods including live, frozen, or freeze-dried foods, as well as pellets or flakes. It is important to offer a variety of foods to ensure a balanced diet.
They are characterized by being black in color with clear stripes running along their body. Black bee shrimp are often confused with other black shrimp species, such as the Yamato shrimp, the White Banded Shrimp, and the Black Diamond shrimp. However, Crystal Black shrimp can be distinguished from these other species by their clear stripes and their smaller size.
Crystal Black Shrimp
The Crystal Black shrimp (also known as the CBS or Black Diamond shrimp) is a variety of Bee shrimp that is native to the island of Taiwan. They are popular freshwater aquarium shrimp that are known for their unique black and white stripes. The Crystal Black shrimp are small shrimp that only grow to be about 1 – 2 inches (2.5 – 5 cm) in length.
These shrimp are not very active shrimp and prefer to stay hidden among plants and rocks. They are omnivorous and will eat almost any type of aquarium food, including algae, plants, and small insects. Also, the Crystal Black shrimp are very peaceful and make a great addition to any freshwater aquarium.
Crystal Red Shrimp
The Crystal red shrimp, also known as CRS, are dwarf freshwater shrimp that is popular in the aquarium trade. They are named for their unique coloration which is a deep red with white spots. Crystal red shrimp are native to China and were first imported into the United States in the early 2000s. They are known for their beautiful red and white coloration.
Crystal Red Shrimp are native to China and were first imported into the United States in 2004. They quickly became one of the most popular shrimp in the hobby due to their unique coloration and peaceful nature. Crystal Red Shrimp are very easy to care for and make a great addition to any aquarium.
Male and Female Difference
Crystal Black shrimp is a dark black color with white spots all over their bodies. They have long, slender bodies and long antennae. Their eyes are red. Black Bee Shrimp are sexually dimorphic, meaning that males and females can be distinguished by their appearance. Male Black Bee Shrimp tend to be slightly larger than females and have longer tails. In addition, males often have larger claws than females. Females have a more rounded body shape and are larger than males.
How Much do Crystal Black Shrimp Cost?
They are a very popular shrimp among aquarium hobbyists. So, if you are looking to purchase Crystal Black shrimp, you can expect to pay around $5–$8 per shrimp. This price will vary depending on the store you purchase them from and the current market value.
Crystal Black Bee Shrimp Care & Tank Requirements
It is a beautiful little addition to any aquarium. They are very popular in the shrimp-keeping hobby and are known for their striking black coloration with white spots. They are easy to care for and make a great addition to any shrimp tank. So, here is everything you need to know about tanks for Crystal Black Bee shrimp.
The Best Aquarium Size for CBS
The best aquarium size for Crystal Black Bee shrimp is 10 gallons. This is because they are small shrimp and do not require a lot of space. A 10-gallon aquarium will also allow you to keep a few other shrimp or fish in with your CBS. Generally, aquarium size is not critical for CBS, as long as the fish have enough room to swim around and the water is clean and well-oxygenated.
Also, when it comes to choosing an aquarium for your shrimp, it is important to choose one that has a tight-fitting lid. This is because shrimp are very good at jumping and will jump out of an aquarium that does not have a lid. Also, some pets, like dogs or cats, might try to eat or play with the shrimp if they can reach them.
Water Parameters
Crystal Black Bee shrimp can live in a wide range of water parameters, but they prefer water that is slightly acidic with a pH of 6.5 – 7.0. They also prefer water that is soft with a hardness of 2 – 8 dGH. They can live in temperatures of 68 – 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, make sure to provide plenty of hiding places and vegetation in the tank for the shrimp to hide and graze on.
Filtration
This shrimps are very sensitive to water quality and need a well-filtered tank. A good filter will help to keep the water quality high and will also help to keep the Crystal Black Bee shrimp healthy. This is one of the most important pieces of equipment for a shrimp tank because a good filter will help to keep the water clean and will also help to keep the shrimp healthy.
Do Crystal Black Shrimp Need Air Pump?
An air pump is one of the most important pieces of equipment for keeping black shrimp. It provides oxygen to the water, which the shrimp need to breathe. Without an air pump, the shrimp will not be able to survive. So, you must make sure that you have a good quality air pump that is powerful enough to provide oxygen to all of the shrimp in your tank. An air pump will help to oxygenate the water and keep the shrimp healthy.
Aquarium Lighting
Crystal Black Bee shrimp do not require any special lighting requirements and can do well in a variety of lighting setups. A basic fluorescent aquarium light will work just fine. Just make sure that the light is not too bright and that there is some hiding places in the aquarium for the shrimp to escape the light if they need to. Also, make sure that the aquarium light is not too hot, as this can stress out the shrimp.
Plants and Decorations
Crystal Black Bee shrimp do best in a shrimp tank that is heavily planted. They are very shy and reclusive creatures, and the more plants there are in the tank, the more hiding places they will have. A heavily planted tank will also help to keep the water quality high.
These shrimp are not fussy about the type of plants in their tank, but they do prefer live plants. live plants will help to keep the water quality high and also provide the shrimp with a source of food.
Plants and decorations are important for black shrimp for a few reasons. First, they provide hiding places for the shrimp. Black shrimp are a timid species and like to have places to hide when they feel scared or threatened. Second, plants and decorations help to create a naturalistic environment for the shrimp. This can make them feel more comfortable and help them to thrive.
When choosing plants and decorations for a black shrimp tank, it is important to avoid anything that has sharp edges. Black shrimp are very delicate and can be easily injured by sharp objects. It is also important to avoid using chemicals or cleaners that contain toxins that could be harmful to the shrimp.
Some good plants to include in a black shrimp tank are java ferns, anubias, and mosses. These plants are all hardy and can tolerate a wide range of water conditions. They will also provide plenty of places for the shrimp to hide. Decorations such as driftwood, rocks, and caves can also be used in a black shrimp tank. Just be sure to avoid anything that is too small, as the shrimp could get stuck inside.
Crystal Black Bee shrimp are also not fussy about the type of substrate in their tank. They can live in both sand and gravel substrates. So, choose whatever you feel looks best in your shrimp tank.
What’s the Best Substrate for Crystal Black Shrimps?
I recommend using a dark color substrate in your shrimp tank. A dark substrate will make the colors of your Crystal Black Bee shrimp really pop. We also recommend using a substrate that is soft and sandy. This is because Crystal Black Bee shrimp are very delicate and can be easily injured by a substrate that is too hard or too sharp. Also, a soft substrate is much easier on their delicate gills.
Food & Diet
As each shrimp species has its own specific diet requirements, it is important to know what your Black Shrimp are eating. Black shrimp are filter feeders that eat small organisms suspended in the water column. In the wild, their diet consists of microscopic algae, bacteria, and other small organisms. In the aquarium, they can be fed a variety of foods, including live, frozen, and freeze-dried foods.
To ensure a balanced diet, it is best to feed them a variety of foods. Live and frozen foods should make up the bulk of their diet, with freeze-dried foods being fed as a treat. Also, make sure to provide them with plenty of algae and other vegetable matter to graze on. If you dont provide them with enough food, they may start eating detritus and other organic matter, which can pollute the water.
What Can I Feed Crystal Red Shrimp?
A good diet for Crystal Red shrimp includes:
- Live foods, such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, or bloodworms
- Frozen foods, such as mysis shrimp, krill, or brine shrimp
- Freeze-dried foods, such as bloodworms or tubifex worms
- Algae tablets or flakes
- High-quality shrimp pellets or granules
Also, if you do not have access to live or frozen foods, you can feed them high-quality dried shrimp or fish food pellets that have been soaked in water for a few minutes.
How Often Do CRS Need to Be Fed?
Crystal Red shrimp should be fed 2 – 3 times per day. This will ensure they are getting the nutrition they need and help prevent overfeeding. On the other hand, overfeeding can cause water quality issues and pollute the aquarium.
How Long Can a Crystal Red Shrimp Go Without Food?
A Crystal Red shrimp can go without food for a few days, but it is not recommended to do so on a regular basis. If you are away from home and cannot feed your shrimp for a few days, make sure to provide them with a food source that will last, such as freeze-dried bloodworms. Also, make sure to remove any uneaten food from the aquarium to prevent water quality issues.
Watch the Following Video on Basic Shrimp Tank Setup for Crystal Black Shrimp
You can watch the following video on basic shrimp tank setup, which includes a section on Crystal Black shrimp care:
Behavior & Temperament
If you are new to the hobby and are looking for an easy-to-care-for shrimp, then Black shrimp are a great choice. They are very active and are constantly moving around the aquarium, looking for food. Black shrimp are also very peaceful and get along well with other shrimp and fish.
The Crystal Black shrimp is a beautiful addition to any freshwater aquarium. They are peaceful and have an active yet calm demeanor. They do well in most aquariums with other peaceful community fish. These dwarf shrimp are easy to care for and make great beginner shrimp.
Black shrimp are peaceful and social creatures that do well in groups. They are not aggressive and will not harm other fish or shrimp in the tank. These shrimp like to hide and will often seek out hiding places such as plants or rocks. Also, black shrimp are known to be good cleaners and will help keep the tank clean.
These shrimp are also known to be very good at algae control. They will graze on algae all day long and help keep your aquarium clean. Also, if you have a fish that is known to eat shrimp, Black shrimp are not the best choice as they are very small and can easily be eaten. And these shrimp are very like to hide and may not be seen very often. You should provide lots of hiding places in your aquarium for these shrimp, and remember that it won’t be easy to find them if they are hiding.
Good Tank Mates
If you want to keep your black shrimp healthy, it is important to choose the right tank mates. Black shrimp are peaceful creatures that do well with other peaceful fish and invertebrates. Some good tank mates for black shrimp include:
- Neon Tetras
- Guppies
- Platies
- Mollies
- Corydoras Catfish
- Ghost shrimp
These are just a few examples, but there are much other fish and shrimp that would make good tank mates for black shrimp. It is important to research the fish or shrimp before adding them to the tank to make sure they are compatible
Unsafe Tank Mates
Due to the peaceful and social nature of black shrimp, they can be kept with a variety of different fish and shrimp. However, there are some fish and shrimp that should not be kept with black shrimp. These include:
- Cichlids
- Bettas
- Guppies
- Goldfish
- Nerite snails
Black shrimp are not aggressive and will not harm other fish or shrimp in the tank. However, these fish and shrimp are known to be aggressive and can harm or even kill black shrimp. So, it is best to avoid keeping black shrimp with these fish and shrimp.
Black Bee Shrimp Breeding
Black bee shrimp are easy to breed and will often breed in captivity. The female shrimp will lay her eggs on the underside of rocks or plants. The eggs will hatch in 2 – 3 weeks, and the baby shrimp will be able to fend for themselves. They will reach maturity in 4 – 6 months.
These shrimp are known to be good parents and will often care for their young. So, you do not need to worry about the baby shrimp if you have black bee shrimp in your tank. Also, the baby shrimp are very cute, and you will often see them swimming around with their parents.
If you want to breed Black Bee shrimp, you will need a few things. First, you need a group of at least 6 shrimp. It is best to have 2 males and 4 females, but you can have more shrimp if you want. You will also need a breeding tank that is at least 5 gallons in size. The breeding tank should have a sponge filter and plenty of hiding places.
To start the breeding process, you will need to acclimate the shrimp to their new environment. To do this, you will need to slowly add water from the breeding tank to the shrimp’s current tank. You will need to do this over the course of an hour. Once the shrimp are acclimated, you can add them to the breeding tank.
The shrimp will start to mate, and the female shrimp will lay their eggs. The eggs will hatch in about 2 weeks. The baby shrimp will be very small and will need to be fed very small foods. You can feed them baby brine shrimp or finely ground flake food.
As the baby shrimp grow, you will need to provide them with more hiding places and food. Once they are big enough, you can move them to their own tank or sell them. This process can be repeated as often as you like.
FAQs on How to Care for CBS
If you have a few questions about shrimp, then maybe this can help!
Can you keep Crystal Red shrimp with Crystal Black shrimp?
Crystal Red and Crystal Black shrimp can be kept together without any problems. In fact, they often look quite striking when kept together in an aquarium! Also, both of these shrimp species are very peaceful and will not bother each other.
How many babies do Crystal Black shrimp have?
Crystal Black shrimp usually have around 20 – 30 babies at a time. They can have it every 5 – 7 weeks.
Are Crystal Black shrimp good algae eaters?
Crystal Black shrimp are known to be excellent algae eaters and can help to keep your aquarium clean. They are also peaceful and can get along well with other shrimp and fish in your tank. The only downside is that they are not as easy to find as some of the other shrimp species, and they like to have plenty of hiding places in the aquarium, so it can be more difficult to keep an eye on them.
How often do Crystal Black shrimp molt?
Crystal Black shrimp molt every 4 to 6 weeks. This is normal molting behavior and nothing to be concerned about. Also, during a molt, the shrimp’s old shell will remain on the shrimp for a few days until the new shell hardens.
Can Crystal Black shrimp live with Cherry shrimp?
Crystal Black shrimp can live with Cherry shrimp, but it is important to have a setup that is large enough for both species. Also, it is important to keep in mind that the Cherry shrimp may not be as tolerant of the Crystal Black shrimp’s high activity levels.
Closing Thoughts
Crystal Black shrimp are a unique and very beautiful freshwater shrimp species. They have an amazing black coloration with a hint of purple and white, which is why they are so popular with shrimp keepers. However, these shrimp are not easy to keep and care for. They are very sensitive to changes in water parameters and can easily die if not given the proper care. So, if you want to keep them, you need to do your research and make sure you are prepared to care for them properly. I hope this guide has helped you learn everything you need to know about keeping and caring for Crystal Black shrimp. Good luck!
References:
- Breeding and Life Cycle of Fresh Water Ornamnetal Shrimp-Indian White Banded Shrimp, Caridina cf. babaulti Var. Indian White Banded (by Sesh Serebiah): https://www.academia.edu/58291547/Breeding_and_Life_Cycle_of_Fresh_Water_Ornamnetal_Shrimp_Indian_White_Banded_Shrimp_Caridina_cf_babaulti_Var_Indian_White_Banded?sm=b
- Dwarf Shrimp Internal Anatomy – Shrimp and Snail Breeder: https://pin.it/2o13RTn
- Cherry Shrimp Neocaridina davidi (Bouvier 1904)(Crustacea: Decopoda: Atyidae) by Carrie Suen and Jennifer L. Gillett-Kaufman: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/IN/IN130100.pdf
