Red rhino shrimp - Caridina gracilirostris

Typical for the red rhinoceros shrimp is the above average long, red colored rostrum. Otherwise, practically the entire body of the animal is transparent except for a red longitudinal stripe. The Red Rhinoceros Shrimp originates from mangrove swamps in India and lives there in brackish as well as in freshwater areas. Accordingly, they can be kept in the aquarium in brackish water with a salinity of about 15 g sea salt per liter and in fresh water. At up to 4 centimeters, the red rhinoceros shrimp grows quite large for a dwarf shrimp. Males remain slightly smaller than females.
With good care, these shrimp can live up to six years in age, which is very rare for dwarf shrimp. It is possible for the long rostrum to break off during transport - but it will grow back completely during the next molt.

As an omnivore, the red rhinoceros shrimp likes to take algae coverings and food scraps, but special shrimp foods and frozen foods are also eaten with great pleasure. Protein should be on the menu in the form of a suitable protein food twice a week. Tender plants may be eaten under certain circumstances. Brown autumn leaves should always be available as permanent food.

There are seldom difficulties with other(peaceful) creatures in the aquarium, provided the requirements for the water values match. The Red Rhinoceros Shrimp is more buoyant than most dwarf shrimp, and because of this and its size, many nano tanks are too small for it. It does not interbreed with other shrimp species.

Breeding the Red Rhinoceros Shrimp is a bit more involved, as the larvae require brackish to seawater and special rearing foods. The female releases up to 1,500 larvae after a gestation period of six weeks, which hatch from the very small eggs. The rearing of the red rhinoceros shrimp larvae can be compared to that of the amano shrimp. Unfortunately, in freshwater aquariums the larvae die after a few days or they are eaten.

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, in which the vitamins and other valuable ingredients are preserved as far as possible.

Our plant recommendation: Use for the 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.