Black King Kong Extreme - Caridina spec.

Black King Kong Extreme are classic black taiwan shrimp of the first hour, also called Shadow Shrimp. Shadow shrimp are considered to be the result of a cross between bee shrimp and tiger shrimp, thus hybrids. They are therefore referred to as Caridina sp. The Black King Kong Extreme is a breeding form, which does not exist in nature. The Black King Kong Extreme stands out due to its high color density and good color coverage. The 2-3 cm growing Black King Kong Extreme shows a very deep, intensive black, which has no more white patterns. The Taiwanese typical blue undercolor gives the black a beautiful shimmer and an excellent color quality.
 

Female Black King Kong Extreme shrimp are larger and appear more rounded than the much slimmer and also smaller males. The egg spot of the females is not visible thanks to the very good quality in color coverage. In many females of the Black King Kong Extreme dwarf shrimp the second abdominal segment is enlarged at the lower edge, here you can see the so called tiger scoop. It can also be used to differentiate between the sexes.

Black King Kong Extreme shrimp need very soft water, with no or barely detectable carbonate hardness, with a slightly acidic pH below seven, as well as a water temperature of 20 to 25°C. In summer, you may need to use an aquarium cooler. The water must be not only soft, but also very clean and rich in oxygen. In aquariums from 20 liters capacity a group of Black King Kong Extreme dwarf shrimp feels comfortable. Very good results are achieved in keeping and breeding the Black King Kong Extreme dwarf shrimp with demineralized water or osmosis water, which is remineralized to the appropriate values with a GH+ mineral salt according to package instructions. Humic substances make the water suitable for shrimp and lower the germ density. Of course you can also buy these products here at Garnelio in the online store.

Active, not pre-fertilized Soil for shrimp keeping is a good choice for these pretty Caridina high breeding shrimp. Here the pH value and hardness are stabilized and kept low. In the Garnelio system we keep all our Caridina high breeders in salted osmosis water at a conductance of 250 microsiemens and a pH of just below 7. A high nitrate level is not well tolerated by this Caridina sp. so they should not be used in aquascapes.

In the breeding aquarium for the Black King Kong Extreme Dwarf Shrimp, work with rather few plants, mainly with perching plants such as Bucephalandra or mosses. They give the shrimp hiding places and areas to graze, but are still nice and clear. To select the shrimps, simply remove the perching plants from the aquarium together with the stone on which they were tied.

Basically, taiwan shrimp are not socialized with fish, crabs, shrimps and predatory snails, which would help themselves to the cuties. Highly cultured shrimp are still best kept in a species tank. If the aquarium is large enough, small catfish like Otocinclus will also fit to the Black King Kong Extreme shrimps. Unfortunately, most snails do not live very long in soft water, so they are not a suitable cleaner for an aquarium with Shadow Bees. As an alternative, some breeders therefore use Tubifex or also shiny worms as a clean-up troop, which loosen the substrate instead of the snails and utilize food remains. Now and then the shrimps even use the worms as a source of protein. Other shrimps of the genus Caridina from the species group around Caridina serrata, for example bee shrimps (Caridina logemanni), Caridina cantonensis (Tangerine, Aura Blue) or tiger shrimps (Caridina mariae) cross with the Black King Kong Extreme, as well as many hybrids from these shrimps. This can lead to undesirable patterns and weakened color density, but also to new color forms and patterns.

Breeding Black King Kong Extreme shrimp depends on suitable conditions, then this beautiful black Caridina variety reproduces well. Offspring may need to be selected for color, color coverage and pattern. Females carry 15-30 eggs on their swimming legs, where they care for them until the young hatch. Taiwan shrimp are of the specialized reproductive type, and the young shrimp, which hatch after about three to five weeks, grow easily in freshwater.

Black King Kong Extreme shrimp belong to the omnivorous nursery eaters. They require a certain amount of protein in their diet, but feed primarily on vegetable matter. They like to eat algae cover, growth and biofilms. Once or twice a week, these beautiful black taiwan shrimp should be provided with a suitable protein food. Dried green walnut leaves, scalded or dried nettle leaves, chips of Hokkaido squash, and other plant foods are a good addition to the main diet. Brown autumn leaves or a small sea almond leaf will provide tannins and also serve as a permanent food source.

Our food recommendation: NatureHolic's soft mainfeed softpads are designed for daily feeding. They contain all the nutrients shrimp need for shell development, egg formation and growth. During the production we pay attention to a gentle and environmentally friendly production, where the vitamins and other valuable ingredients are preserved as much as possible.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planaria and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.