Melody
Dec 19th 2006, 01:11 AM
'Tis the Season to talk about holiday shrimp that aren't on a menu! In your Shrimp travels you may have spotted Rudolph Red-Nosed Shrimp {Caridina gracilirostris}. Its a good time of year to profile this festive creature.
http://www.franksaquarium.com/images/Caridina_%20gracilirostris.jpg
{ Photo: http://www.franksaquarium.com }
Rudolph Red-Nosed Shrimp are also known as Rudolph Shrimp, Mosquito Shrimp, Red-Stripe Shrimp, Needle Shrimp and Rhino Shrimp. They are named, quite obviously, for the big red nose that mature males sport. It seems almost too heavy for them at times as they often have it pointed downwards. They do manage to swim quite well though.
With slow acclimation they are highly adaptable in regards to pH (within reason) and temp, making them a good beginner Shrimp. They do just fine at room temp. They get to about an inch in length making them great for smaller tanks.
While they will dominate a tank of smaller shrimp, they are not aggressive and can be kept with shrimp of equal temperament and similar size.
Rudolph shrimp are not picky eaters but they do require vegetation in their diet and they enjoy algae growing on plant leaves. Reports of them nibbling on delicate plants appear to be related to a lack of greens in the diet. Wafers or flakes with a high spirulina content and pealed, softened & quartered peas should address this issue, along with homemade foods (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12) high in vegetable content. This requirement indicates that it is a species which will make a reasonably good algae eater.
These Shrimp can be bred in captivity but the larvae will need brackish conditions to survive. A fun challenge to the more experienced Shrimp breeder. Males are the colorful ones in this species, with the females being largely transparent and colorless.
The perfect way to add some festivity to your fish tank, but please, no laughing and calling them names. :DevilGrin:
http://www.franksaquarium.com/images/Caridina_%20gracilirostris.jpg
{ Photo: http://www.franksaquarium.com }
Rudolph Red-Nosed Shrimp are also known as Rudolph Shrimp, Mosquito Shrimp, Red-Stripe Shrimp, Needle Shrimp and Rhino Shrimp. They are named, quite obviously, for the big red nose that mature males sport. It seems almost too heavy for them at times as they often have it pointed downwards. They do manage to swim quite well though.
With slow acclimation they are highly adaptable in regards to pH (within reason) and temp, making them a good beginner Shrimp. They do just fine at room temp. They get to about an inch in length making them great for smaller tanks.
While they will dominate a tank of smaller shrimp, they are not aggressive and can be kept with shrimp of equal temperament and similar size.
Rudolph shrimp are not picky eaters but they do require vegetation in their diet and they enjoy algae growing on plant leaves. Reports of them nibbling on delicate plants appear to be related to a lack of greens in the diet. Wafers or flakes with a high spirulina content and pealed, softened & quartered peas should address this issue, along with homemade foods (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12) high in vegetable content. This requirement indicates that it is a species which will make a reasonably good algae eater.
These Shrimp can be bred in captivity but the larvae will need brackish conditions to survive. A fun challenge to the more experienced Shrimp breeder. Males are the colorful ones in this species, with the females being largely transparent and colorless.
The perfect way to add some festivity to your fish tank, but please, no laughing and calling them names. :DevilGrin: