Cardinal Shrimp
Caridina dennerli
This shrimp reaches 2-3 cm. Its body is bright red with small white spots arranged regularly, resembling a cardinal's robe. Legs are white. The rostrum is short. It lives in the hard, alkaline waters of Lake Matano. Its behavior is peaceful but sensitive to stress. It feeds mainly on biofilm and microalgae. Reproduction is difficult in captivity, requiring very stable conditions. Females carry few eggs (10-20) and the incubation period is long.
Recommended parameters
| Parameter | Recommended range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 26–30 |
| pH | 7.5–8.5 |
| GH | 6–10 |
| KH | 3–6 |
| NO₃ | ≤ 10 |
| PO₄ | ≤ 0.2 |
Care
Care notes
Critical parameters: temperature 26-30 °C, pH 7.5-8.5, GH 6-10, KH 3-6. A minimum tank size of 40 liters is required. Specialized diet: biofilm, shrimp powders, mineral supplements. Very stable water, small and frequent water changes (10% weekly). Gentle filtration, no strong current. Inert substrate or sand. Avoid any fish. Reproduction is delicate, requires slow acclimation. Water that is too soft or acidic is lethal.