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No federal permit to keepCrystal red (bee) shrimp
Caridina cantonensis
Invertebrates › Freshwater shrimp (Decapoda) › Atyidae (Freshwater shrimp)
Caridina cantonensis, the bee shrimp, is a species of small freshwater shrimp in the family Atyidae.
Care at a glance
Species-specific values
Values researched for this exact species. Where they differ from the group guide below, follow these. Air, surface and water temperatures are listed separately, and each source is kept as published rather than averaged.
| Water temperature | 68–72 degF Retailer’s A–S crystal-red stock range; hobby trade name/taxonomy requires verification, not a range for every wild C. cantonensis population. | 399 |
| Water temperature alternative | 68–76 degF Same retailer gives a wider range for a separate captive-bred cf. cantonensis listing. Preserve stock/source disagreement. | 400 |
| Water pH | 6.2–6.8 pH Crystal-red aquarium stock; acidic soft-water care differs from Neocaridina. | 399 |
| Water gh | 3–6 dGH Retailer’s crystal-red stock recommendation. | 399 |
| Water kh | 0–1 dKH Retailer’s crystal-red stock recommendation; not cherry-shrimp KH. | 399 |
Care guide
Freshwater shrimp
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: Streams and ponds. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Cycled, planted tanks with stable water; moss gives baby shrimp grazing surfaces.
Diet
- Biofilm, algae, blanched vegetables and shrimp pellets.
Health watch
- Avoid copper-based treatments and abrupt temperature, salinity or hardness changes. Maintain stable, species-appropriate mineral content; different freshwater shrimp do not share one water-chemistry recipe.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is native to China, Hong King and possibly Vietnam. These shrimp are scavengers, and eat small pieces of decayed vegetation and algae.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Caridina cantonensis” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Caridina cantonensis, the bee shrimp, is a species of small freshwater shrimp in the family Atyidae. It is native to China, Hong King and possibly Vietnam. These shrimp are scavengers, and eat small pieces of decayed vegetation and algae. Bee shrimp have a life span of about 18 months. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Reproduction | Female Caridina cantonensis can be distinguished from males by size; the female is larger than the male, and has a deeper abdomen. The female shrimp signal readiness to mate by releasing pheromones into the water which lead the males to the female. During this time swimming activity can be quite vigorous as males search for the females. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| History and naming | A phylogenetic analysis conducted by Chen, Chen, and Guo (2020) found Caridina cantonensis to be sister to C. mariae. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 87°F (up to 88°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 52°F (down to 51°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 71–72°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 77–78% on average (driest month about 66%) |
| Rainfall | about 2033 mm a year |
Measured at 69 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
Profile
Profile
Researched for this exact species. Sources are listed under In the wild above.
History
A phylogenetic analysis conducted by Chen, Chen, and Guo (2020) found Caridina cantonensis to be sister to C. mariae.
Sources for this sheet
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- University of Florida IFAS: Use of Copper in Marine Aquaculture and Aquarium Systems Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Aquarium Co-Op: Amano Shrimp Care Guide Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Aquarium Co-Op: Cherry Shrimp—Tank Setup, Food, and Breeding Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Okuno & Bruce 2010: Designation of Ancylomenes gen. nov. Peer-reviewed researchAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- WoRMS/DecaNet: Hymenocera picta Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) Peer-reviewed researchInternational scientific taxonomy used here for classification.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
