Blue Moon Shrimp - Caridina trifasciata var. "blue"

The blue version of the Caridina trifasciata, the Blue Moon shr imp, shows an intense medium blue to dark blue and can appear almost black depending on the incidence of light. This particularly beautiful variant of the wild form also has a certain proportion of differently intensely blue colored dwarf shrimp in its offspring, but juveniles with the typical three-striped pattern may also fall. Caridina trifasciata strongly resembles the bee shr imp Caridina logemanni in its requirements, which like it is also in the species group around Caridina serrata. Caridina trifasciata originally comes from small watercourses in Hong Kong. The body length of about 2.5 or 3 cm of the females is also similar to that of the bee shrimp. The males remain much more slender and smaller in physique.

In the cool, oxygen-rich soft water-bearing streams of its native Hong Kong, Caridina trifasciata has exactly the water it needs, with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 and undetectable carbonate hardness. In the aquarium, optimal conditions for this soft water shrimp can be easily created using osmosis water and a mineral saltdeveloped for bee shrimp and other soft water shrimp . Active substrate(Soil), which buffers the water values and provides stable conditions, is not a must, but helpful. Of course Caridina trifasciata can also be kept on neutral gravel or sand. Only the substrate should definitely not harden up, so it must not contain lime. Since it originates from temperate climate zones, Caridina trifasciata does not need a heater, but rather (especially in summer) a cooling, so that the temperature in the aquarium does not exceed 25 °C. We recommend a water change of about ten to thirty percent per week, of course always with adjusted water.

Caridina trifasciata is also quite similar in food requirements to the bee shrimp. In nature it is an omnivore responsible for leftover food and is not a fussy eater in the aquarium either. In the biotope it eats mainly brown autumn leaves, from which it initially grazes the biofilms, but which it also eats as soon as it has been further broken down by the bacteria and becomes friable. Autumn leaves may remain in the aquarium until they are completely eaten - and always add more! Caridina trifasciata will also gladly take commercial shrimp foods and is grateful for a special protein food twice a week. Predominantly vegetable food such as green food (over-broken and/or dried nettle leaves, unseasoned spinach and dried green walnut leaves or dandelion and much more) is also very well accepted by them.

If the external conditions are right, the reproduction of Caridina trifasciata is not long in coming. After successful mating, the females of the Blue Moon shrimp attach about twenty to forty small eggs to their swimming legs under their abdomen. There they sort and clean them and fan them with oxygen-rich water. After a little more than four weeks, the young hatch from these eggs, looking like miniature versions of their parents from the start. Immediately after hatching, they go on their own in the aquarium, but during the first days they are not very active. A good dust food will provide them with everything they need where they sit.

As a peaceful and compatible group animal, the Blue Moon Shrimp Caridina trifasciata can be socialized with other dwarf shrimp. It can interbreed with all species from the serrata group, including bee shrimp, tiger shrimp and the striped form of Caridina trifasciata as well as all patterns and colors of Caridina cantonensis (for example the Aura Blue, the Tangerine Tiger or also some spotted shrimp ...). The requirements to the water values must be considered in any case! With peaceful snails you can keep the Blue Moon Shrimp of course always, and possibly also with very small and peaceful fish. Since the blue color is still very rare, you should possibly consider a species tank.

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.