Mandarin Shrimp (Caridina thambipillai)
| Mandarin Shrimp Caridina thambipillai | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Mandarin Shrimp |
| Name Lat. | Caridina thambipillai |
| Synonym | Caridina propinqua |
| Family | Shrimps |
| Family lat. | Atyidae |
| Order | Decapoda |
| Order lat. | Decapoda |
| Origin | Southern Asia |
| Habitat | Streams, pools, estuaries |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| pH | 6.0-8.0 |
| Behavior | Peaceful |
| Keeping | Group |
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Reproduction | Marine larval stages |
| Breeding | Difficult |
| Life Span | 2-3 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 2-3 cm |
| Temperature | 22-30 °C |
| Hardness | < 20 °dH |
| Aquarium | 30 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 0.8"-1.2" |
| Temperature | 72-86 °F |
| Hardness | < 356 ppm |
| Aquarium | 10 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The mandarin shrimp are widely distributed from Sri Lanka through southern India and Bangladesh to Thailand and Malaysia. They live in coastal waters with dense vegetation, such as estuaries and mangrove swamps, as well as in streams, lakes and ponds with direct connection to the sea.
Maintenance
They need an aquarium planted with fine plants and moss, plus roots and stones, and a weak to medium current. The substrate of dark sand or gravel should be partially covered with foliage (e.g. almond leaves, oak leaves), rotting plant material and mulm.
No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite should be detectable in the aquarium water, the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the size of the aquarium is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals. When choosing the filter, special care should be taken to ensure that the animals cannot be sucked in.
Diet
In nature, they use the bristles of their scissor legs to rasp off growth organisms from stones, dead wood and plants
They can be fed well with autumn leaves of native trees (e.g. oak, beech, maple, birch), sea almond tree leaves as well as fresh, scalded nettle or dandelion leaves, spirulina algae and special shrimp food with low protein content (below 30%), plus spinach, freshly scalded or frozen. It is recommended to coat stones or roots with a slurry of spirulina, chlorella and other algae powder and place them in the aquarium after they have dried. Dry food for fish and crayfish, frozen or freeze-dried food as well as live food such as cyclops, daphnia, Artemia nauplii and microworms should only be offered occasionally due to the high protein content.
It is sufficient to feed them about 3 times a week. Unaccepted food should be siphoned off after about 12 hours. Regular and varied feeding promotes the well-being of the animals.
Behaviour and compatibility
They should be kept in a group of at least 10 animals. Keeping them in a species tank is recommended, but they can also be kept with small peaceful fish in a community tank with lots of moss and fine-feathered plants (hiding places).
Basically, only compatible animals with similar demands on water quality and water temperature may be socialized.
Reproduction and breeding
Females are larger and have a more deeply extended abdomen, which makes them appear more plump.
The females attach the fertilized eggs to their swimming legs (pleopods). After a gestation period of about 4 weeks, the larvae (benthic zoe larvae) hatch, develop in several stages in seawater, and migrate back to brackish or freshwater as finished shrimp.
Breeding in the aquarium is hardly possible
Important
Their appearance (coloration and pattern) is very variable.
The foliage (sea almond, oak, beech, etc.) not only provides cover, but when rotting promotes the development of microorganisms, which are a valuable secondary food source
The well-being of the animals should be monitored regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even when contaminant levels have not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced animals must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: petdata; Image: Barbara Pachner
Source: KARGE & KLOTZ (2007): Süßwassergarnelen aus aller Welt, Dähne Verlag; ENGELMANN & LANGE (2011): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Wirbellose, Verlag Harri Deutsch