Bee shrimp (Caridina cantonensis) are one of the most rarest neocaridina shrimp in the aquarium hobby. These stunning and wildly diverse specimens come in an astounding array of colour morphs and patterns.
In the 1990s Hisayasu Suzuki, a Japanese shrimp breeder, noticed that a few crystal red bee shrimp displayed a slightly reddish hue. He and other breeders refined the strain to increase the brightness, delineation, and overall coverage of their colours.
1. They’re Stunning
When freshwater shrimp first made waves in the hobby, breeders quickly began experimenting with different color morphs and species. The results have been stunning, bringing the hobby into a whole new dimension.
The Taiwan bee shrimp is a great example of this. A cross between an orange tiger stripe shrimp and a standard Taiwan bee, it’s the result of years of selective breeding by breeders around the world. It has brought the world into an amazing new era of shrimp ornaments, with a unique look that has become instantly recognizable.
Aside from a beautiful appearance, the shrimp is also very easy to care for. The acclimating process is fairly quick and straightforward, with the shrimp being ready to be placed in your tank within a month. As with all Caridina dwarf shrimp, the Taiwan bee is a hardy and adaptable species that can be kept in tanks of all sizes, as long as they have adequate water volume and proper lighting.
In addition, the shrimp are relatively easy to breed. After molting, adult females will release pheromones that attract male shrimp. The males will then mate with the females, fertilizing her eggs. Once fertilized, the eggs will begin to hatch in about a week. The shrimp are very colorful when hatched, and they’ll be ready for their own aquariums in about four weeks.
While the shrimp are easier to breed and care for than many other species of freshwater shrimp, they’re still not suitable for beginning invert keepers. Bee shrimp are a little more fragile than other Caridina dwarf shrimp, and they are prone to genetic defects and deformities. As such, they’re usually best kept in a separate tank from other strains of bee shrimp to prevent mixing and crossbreeding.
In addition, they do better in cooler temperatures, with most breeders recommending keeping them in waters that don’t exceed about 76°F. The higher temperatures can make it difficult to maintain the proper level of oxygen, which can be a serious problem for these delicate creatures. As a result, it’s generally recommended that hobbyists start with a common Neocaridina species or Amano shrimp (Caridina cantonensis) before moving on to bee shrimp.
2. They’re Easy to Care
Bee shrimp are not the easiest shrimp to care for, as they require adequate tank size with unique water parameters that you need to be very mindful of. This makes them a challenge for the beginning shrimp keeper, and it is generally recommended that you only start with them after having had some experience with the more forgiving Neocaridina species or Amano shrimp.
However, with proper care and attention, these gorgeous little creatures can thrive. They are very tolerant of temperature, but the best bet is to keep them in a cooler aquarium with a lower ph level. This will help them avoid the stress of overheating, which is what they are most susceptible to.
They are also fairly resilient to bacterial and parasitic infections, although they can still be prone to scavenging and picking at their tanks if not properly cared for or fed. This is especially true if they are not fed the proper amount of enriched foods that they need to grow and develop to their full potential.
Because of their robust nature, it’s not uncommon for bee shrimp to live up to two years in captivity. However, they will only live this long if their environment is kept clean and healthy and their health is in good shape. If they are constantly under stress or if they are infected with any kind of disease, their lifespan will be much shorter.
Another thing to consider when housing bee shrimp is that they are very picky with what they will eat and who they will pair up with. They are not suitable for community tanks with other fish species, as they will most likely be gobbled up and killed.
As far as pairings, bee shrimp are usually paired with dwarf shrimp, which are very similar in appearance to them. This allows them to stay together without hybridizing or muddling the appearances of either strain. You can also find them paired with other crystal variants, such as golden bee shrimp, but this is less common as it will most likely result in a weaker offspring.
3. They’re Easy to Breed
Of the many varieties of Caridina shrimp that are available to the hobbyist, the bee (Caridina cf. cantonensis) is perhaps the most diversified. That said, however, it also thrives in a far narrower range of conditions than some of its more adaptable cousins in the genus Neocaridina, such as red cherry shrimp. Specifically, bee shrimp prefer water on the softer side, with values around 5-15degdH and a pH of 6.5-7.0.
As a result, bee shrimp are not ideal for beginning invert keepers who are hoping to expand their collection of exotic dwarf shrimps. Instead, new shrimp breeders often start with common Neocaridina species such as Amano shrimp and move on to bees only after they’ve had a fair amount of success with more forgiving strains.
Having said that, bee shrimp are not without their merits as an aquarium staple. These unique little shrimps are excellent tank clean-up crews and can be a beautiful centerpiece in any tank, especially when kept with other species such as black king kong or wine red.
The bee shrimp’s wide-ranging coloration has made it the perfect subject for a variety of color morphs. In the past few years, new Taiwan bee morphs have created quite a stir in the shrimp community with their vivid colors and stunning patterns. These new incarnations of bee shrimp have been given imaginative names such as Panda Bee, Black King Kong, Blue Bolt or Red Ruby.
These newly introduced color morphs are all descendants of the wild-type Taiwan bee. Unlike the traditional bee, which has a rough pattern of broad dark stripes on a clear body, these strains have a smooth, even coating of white coloring across the shrimp’s entire abdomen. They are also a bit more tolerant of changes in their environment than the traditional bee.
Moreover, since they’re all variants of the same gene, they can be crossed with each other without worrying about corrupting their look. This is not possible with other morphs such as golden bees, which can’t be cross-bred with tigers without producing the kind of vaguely stripy and splotchy result known as a tibee.
4. They’re Easy to Find
When breeding Taiwan bee shrimp, it is important to separate each strain in order to preserve the colors. Each variety has a distinct color pattern that sets it apart from the others. These coloring variations have been developed through decades of careful selective breeding. While all Taiwan bee shrimp are the same species (Caridina cantonensis), they each have different variations in their color stripes, head carapace, tail fan and pheromone production that differentiate them from one another.
Creating a separate breeding tank for Taiwan bee shrimp can help prevent cross-breeding and inbreeding that leads to genetic defects. Breeding tanks also need to be equipped with active soil to provide a natural environment for the shrimp and allow them to thrive. Active soil increases water acidity and stabilizes pH levels, helping to create the ideal habitat for Caridina dwarf shrimp. In addition, it helps to bind organic waste and reduces the need for frequent water changes.
A good quality Taiwan bee shrimp breeder can provide you with a healthy, high-quality batch of babies that are ready for sale or breeding. When purchasing, be sure to ask your breeder how long he has been breeding these beautiful creatures and whether they have been raised in a clean and healthy environment.
As with all freshwater aquarium species, a well-established tank with stable and optimal water parameters is key to keeping and breeding these stunning animals. You’ll want to ensure your tank has plenty of hiding spots, moss and a natural substrate that can support the growth of the bacteria necessary for maintaining excellent water conditions.
Despite being one of the most beautiful and sought-after ornamental shrimp varieties, Taiwan bee shrimp are not for the beginner. They are more expensive and sensitive than other Caridina shrimp, making them an ideal choice for hobbyists who have completed their research and have experience caring for other Neocaridina species.
New hobbyists often begin with other easily available Caridina species like Amano shrimp (Caridina japonica) or Black Tiger Shrimp (Caridina tigris) before trying their hand at bee shrimp. Inexperienced hobbyists should avoid bee shrimp altogether as they are more difficult to care for and require specialized equipment.