Sponge shrimp

Caridina spongicola

Family : Atyidae

InvertebrateFreshwatershrimp

Small symbiotic shrimp living in freshwater sponges, highly sought after for its rarity.

Sponge shrimp — photo 1 sur 1 — Yixiong Cai, Kristina Zitzler · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.01 / 1

Popularity

Freshwater shrimp

group keeping

Availability

Common in shops

Shop availability

IUCN Status

Least Concern

Description

Caridina spongicola is a freshwater shrimp endemic to the lakes of Sulawesi. It lives symbiotically with freshwater sponges, hiding in their cavities. It grows to about 1-2 cm and has a translucent coloration with red or brown spots. It is a delicate species requiring very clean and stable water. In aquariums, it is challenging to keep but fascinating to observe.

Habitat

Region :

Freshwater lakes, living in association with freshwater sponges

Distribution :

Recommended parameters

Temperature24–28 °C

pH6–7

GH3–6 °dGH

KH1–3 °dKH

NO₃

≤ 10 mg/L

PO₄

≤ 0.2 mg/L

Care

Difficulty

5/5

Diet

Omnivore

Min. tank

20 L

Min. group

Adult size

2 cm

Lifespan

1.5 years

Temperament

Peaceful

Propagation

Eggs hatch into miniature shrimp; breeding in captivity is extremely rare and requires specific sponge conditions.

Care notes

Very stable water: temperature 24-28°C, pH 6.0-7.0, GH 3-6, KH 1-3. Nitrates <10 ppm, phosphates <0.2 ppm. Requires presence of freshwater sponges (Spongilla) or substitutes. Diet: micro-organisms, fine shrimp food. Very sensitive to changes.

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