The Blue Pearl Shrimp is quickly becoming popular in the American Dwarf Shrimp hobby. This shrimp is a blue color variant of the Neocaridina cf. zhangjiajiensis, the same variety that the Snowball Shrimp is selectively breed from. Some of the reasons they are gaining popularity is because of their ease of care, simple food requirements and their prolific breeding habits.
Blue Pearl Shrimp are rather undemanding when it comes to their care requirements. They require a well-established aquarium that has 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and less than 20 nitrates. They can acclimate to a wide range of parameters requiring a pH range from 6.5-7.5, temperature range of 68-75 degrees, and are undemanding when it comes to water hardness. The most important things to remember for Blue Pearl Shrimp is to avoid extreme water parameters and to maintain consistent water parameters.
Omnivores by nature, Blue Pearl Shrimp will eat just about any food that finds its way into the home aquarium. While they are natural algae eaters supplemental feeding is often necessary. Blanched (boiled until soft) vegetables such as zucchini and spinach make great foods. They will also accept just about any food intended for bottom feeding fish or aquatic invertebrates. It is important not to over feed an aquarium with these as this may cause an ammonia spike.
Blue Pearl Shrimp, as with most Neocaridina species of Dwarf Shrimp, are very prolific breeders. As long as a male and female are present in a well established, well-maintained aquarium they will breed. The male is smaller and less colorful, while the female is larger and more vividly colored. After mating, the female will carry the eggs under her tail until they hatch as very small versions of the adult shrimp. No special care is required for the baby shrimp other than avoiding predators and filters than could suck them up and kill them.
As the popularity of the Blue Pearl Shrimp continues to grow so will its distribution. These Dwarf Shrimp are easy to care for, are not picky eaters, breed prolifically, and because of these they are ideal inhabitants of any home aquarium that does not contain predators!
Author: Daniel H. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Hagan |
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