Green rhino shrimp - Caridina hodgarti

Characteristic of the green rhinoceros shrimp is the very slender, elongated body structure and the, compared to other shrimp of the genus Caridina, decidedly long rostrum (what we would most likely call a nose). The coloration of the green rhinoceros shrimp, as the name suggests, is green, although some individuals may appear more yellowish. The natural occurrence of the green rhinoceros shrimp is in India, where the animals are mainly found in brackish mangrove swamps. The animals seem to be very adaptable and can also be found in freshwater. For the keeping in the domestic  aquarium one has the choice to keep the animals in pure fresh water, a little bit harder tap water would be here certainly of advantage, or in brackish water with a salinity (salt content) of approx. 15 g sea salt per liter. When fully grown, the green rhinoceros shrimp reach up to 4 centimeters, which is already a stately size compared to other dwarf shrimp. Males of Caridina hodgarti remain, as with other dwarf shrimp about 0.5 cm smaller than the females.
Not only the final size is remarkable, also the life expectancy of the green rhino shrimp is exceptional for dwarf shrimp, so the animals can reach a maximum age of up to six years.

Green rhinoceros shrimp are omnivorous(omnivorous) and prefer to graze algae coverings and substrate for edible components. In addition to sufficient plant food in the form of dried foliage and the like, you should also provide sufficient animal proteins , suitable foods for this would be frozen food, live food (Artemia nauplii) and special, protein-containing shrimp food in flakes or even better granular form.

Regarding the tank size, you should consider that the green rhinoceros shrimp are much more active and swim more readily than other dwarf shrimp and accordingly choose tanks with as large a footprint as possible. A socialization is relatively uncomplicated and can be realized with any fish and invertebrates that have similar demands on the water values and are peaceful.

A successful breeding of the green rhinoceros shrimp is a bit more difficult, because the young shrimp have a larval stage and are absolutely dependent on brackish water and special breeding food. The breeding and rearing is best compared to the reproduction of the Amano shrimp C. japonica, where the female releases up to 1,500 tiny larvae after about six weeks, which unfortunately do not survive without greater effort and usually end up as food for the other inhabitants in the aquarium. An overpopulation is therefore very unlikely in a normal aquarium and hardly to be feared.

Caridina Hodgarti depends on cool, clean and germ-poor water, regular, weekly water changes of at least 10 bs 30% are therefore mandatory to ensure the well-being of the animals. The temperature in the aquarium should not rise above 27 °C for a longer period of time, especially in summer it is recommended to use an oxydator and in case of permanently higher temperatures a suitable cooling.

Our food recommendation: The soft Mainfeed Softpads from NatureHolic 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, in which 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.