Giant freshwater shrimp. Real shrimp Description of shrimp

Scientific classification International scientific name

Caridea Dana, 1852

Shrimps, or real shrimp(lat. Caridea) - infraorder of crustaceans from the order Decapods ( Decapoda). Widely distributed throughout the seas of the whole world, many species have mastered fresh waters. Adult size different representatives varies from 2 to 30 cm. In the seas of the Russian Far East, the shrimp fauna includes more than 100 species. Many representatives of this group are objects of industrial fishing.

Although one of the existing types of aquaculture is called “shrimp farm”, the crayfish of the family grown on them Penaeidae according to modern ideas, they do not belong to true shrimp, but to another group of decapods - Dendrobranchiata.

Reproduction and development

Like all other representatives of the suborder Pleocyemata, a stage with a full set of segments emerges from under the egg membranes, and their number does not increase during further development. Many species of shrimp are characterized by protandric hermaphroditism, that is, during their lives they naturally change sex from male to female.

Eating

Cooking recipes using shrimp as ingredients are popular in many cultures. In Judaism, shrimp, like all marine arthropods, are prohibited as food. There is disagreement in Islam regarding the permissibility of their use.

Taxonomy

List of superfamilies of true shrimp:

Some representatives

• Comb chilim ( Pandalus hypsinotus);
• Amano Shrimp ( Caridina multidentata).
• Herbal chilim ( Pandalus latirostris);
• Spiked Shrimp Bear ( Sclerocrangon salebrosa);
• Northern shrimp ( Pandalus borealis)

In art

A recognized master of depicting shrimp was the famous Chinese artist Qi Baishi.

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Notes

Literature

• Westheide V., Rieger R. From arthropods to echinoderms and chordates // Zoology of invertebrates. = Spezielle Zoology. Teil 1: Einzeller und Wirbellose Tiere / trans. with him. O. N. Bölling, S. M. Lyapkova, A. V. Mikheev, O. G. Manylov, A. A. Oskolsky, A. V. Filippova, A. V. Chesunov; ed. A. V. Chesunova. - M.: Partnership of Scientific Publications KMK, 2008. - T. 2. - iv+513-935+iii p. - 1000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-87317-495-9.

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Shrimps(from lat. Caridea) belong to the infraorder Crustaceans, a type of arthropod. They are common in the seas of almost the entire world, and some types of shrimp also live in freshwater bodies. According to its size different types shrimp are different from each other. So, an adult can be only 2 cm in length, but can reach 30 cm.

Shrimp are low in calories: 100 g contains only 94.5 kcal. However, they are very nutritious due to their high protein content. Their composition is so rich and varied that to maintain good health and vigor, it is enough to eat only a handful of this seafood.

Origin

As mentioned above, shrimp are freshwater and marine, but by their origin they all come from the World Ocean. Most shrimp live in the equatorial zone, which gives reason to assume that this is where their real homeland is. The farther from the equator in both directions, the fewer species shrimp and other crustaceans.

Shrimp are creatures of different sexes: females are larger, they have a wide tail and convex sides. When the female reaches puberty, eggs appear under the tail; the smell of their pheromones attracts males, who fertilize these eggs. After 4-6 weeks, larvae are born, which have to go through about 12 more instar stages before turning into adults.

Nutritional value

Shrimp is called one of the healthiest foods. The concentration of vitamins and microelements in shrimp is 50 (!) times higher than in meat, and their composition is truly diverse.

Thus, shrimp contain a lot of potassium, calcium, zinc, iodine, sulfur, phosphorus, as well as Omega-3 polyunsaturated acid. This seafood is also rich in vitamins: E, C, PP, A, H, B vitamins. By the way, a large amount of vitamin B12 contained in shrimp promotes the production of hemoglobin and nourishes nervous system. In addition, eating shrimp is very important when losing weight: the product contains practically no sugar and fat, but at the same time it perfectly satisfies hunger due to its high protein content.

Use in cooking

Most often, shrimp are added to salads, soups, pastas and risotto; this seafood is also included in some sauces. King and tiger prawns are sometimes served as independent dishes: for example, in the form of kebabs or simply fried in a frying pan. As a rule, such shrimps are not consumed boiled: their meat becomes “rubbery” and almost tasteless.

Small shrimp, on the contrary, are tasty when cooked. They are prepared in boiling salted water with the addition of dill, parsley, caraway seeds, bay leaf or pepper until the shrimp float to the surface of the water (about 3-5 minutes). To make the shrimp more juicy and tasty, you can leave them in the broth for 10-15 minutes after cooking.

Application in medicine and cosmetology

Due to the content of a large number of minerals, trace elements and nutrients, shrimp help the human body to grow and develop correctly and fully. If you eat this product regularly, the likelihood of colds, respiratory diseases, immunity increases, and the risk of allergies decreases. In addition, eating shrimp is recommended for people with cancer.

Contraindications

Shrimp are considered such a safe product that they have virtually no contraindications. This healthy seafood can be given even to children. However, we should not forget about such a phenomenon as an allergy to seafood. Unfortunately, you shouldn’t eat shrimp in this case either.

Interesting facts
It is important to know how to choose the right shrimp. In this case, it is necessary first of all
pay attention to their appearance. Seafood tends to change color
with temperature changes. Therefore, if you see pale pink shrimp in front of you
color, it is likely that they were thawed and re-frozen.
Of course, in this case the product loses all its beneficial properties.

Pay attention to the color of the shrimp heads. Green heads should not cause concern:
this color only indicates that the shrimp fed on plankton. Here are the black shades
shrimp heads should make you wary: most likely, this is of poor quality
product, for a long time was in a defrosted state.

Shrimp are crustaceans, which are representatives of the order of decapods. They are widely distributed throughout all bodies of water in the world's oceans. The length of an adult shrimp does not exceed 30 centimeters and weighs 20 grams.

Science knows more than 2,000 individuals that live, including in fresh waters. Taste qualities shrimp resulted in them becoming an object industrial production. Today, the practice of shrimp cultivation is widespread throughout the world.

Features and habitat of shrimp

Shrimp are unique animals in terms of their body structure. Features of shrimp lie in their anatomy. Shrimp are one of the rare crustaceans that shed and change their shells.

Her genitals and heart are located in the head area. The digestive and urinary organs are also located there. Like most crustaceans, shrimp breathes using gills.

The gills of the shrimp are protected by a shell and are located next to the walking legs. Normally, their blood is light blue in color; when there is a lack of oxygen, it becomes discolored.

Shrimp live in almost all large bodies of water in the world. Their range is limited only to the harsh Arctic and Antarctic waters. They have adapted to life in warm and cold, salty and fresh water. The largest number of shrimp species are concentrated in equatorial regions. The further from the equator, the smaller their population.

Character and lifestyle of shrimp

Shrimps play an important role in the ecosystem of the seas and oceans. They clean the bottom of reservoirs from the remains of tubifex worms, aquatic insects and fish. Their diet consists of rotting plants and detritus - black silt formed as a result of the decomposition of fish and algae.

They lead an active lifestyle: they surf the bottom in search of food, crawl along the leaves of plants, cleaning them from snail leeches. Shrimp maneuverability in water is provided by walking legs on the cephalothorax and abdominal swimming legs, and the movements of the caudal peduncles allow them to quickly jump back and scare away their enemies.

Aquarium shrimp perform the functions of an orderly. They rid the reservoir of fouling by lower algae and feed on the remains of their dead “brethren.” Sometimes they can attack sick or sleeping fish. Cannibalism among these crustaceans is rare. It usually appears only in stressful situations or in conditions of prolonged hunger.

Types of shrimp

All famous sciences Shrimp species are divided into four groups:

• Warm water;
• Cold water;
• Brackish water;
• Freshwater.

The habitat of warm-water shrimp is limited southern seas and oceans. They are caught not only in natural environment habitats, but also cultivated under artificial conditions. Science knows more than a hundred species of warm-water shrimp. Examples of such shellfish are black tiger and white tiger shrimp.

White in the photo tiger shrimp

Cold-water shrimp are the most common of the known subspecies. Their habitat is wide: they are found in the Baltic, Barents, North Seas, off the coast of Greenland and Canada.

At description of shrimp It is worth mentioning of such individuals that their length is 10-12 cm, and their weight is 5.5-12 grams. Cold-water shrimp cannot be artificially propagated and develop only in their natural habitat.

They feed exclusively on environmentally friendly plankton, which has a positive effect on their quality. The most famous representatives of this subspecies are the northern red shrimp, northern chilim shrimp and red comb shrimp.

Pictured is chilim shrimp

Shrimp, common in salty waters seas and oceans are called saltwater. So, in Atlantic Ocean Reds live king prawns , northern white, southern pink, northern pink, serrated and other individuals.

The photo shows serrated shrimp

On the South American coasts you can find Chilean shrimp. The waters of the Black, Baltic and Mediterranean seas are rich in grass and sand shrimp.

The photo shows a grassy shrimp

Freshwater shrimp are predominantly found in Southeast and South Asia, Australia, Russia and post-Soviet space. The length of such individuals is 10-15 centimeters and weighs from 11 to 18 grams. The most famous species are the troglocar shrimp, Palaemon superbus, Macrobachium rosenbergii.

Shrimp food

The basis shrimp nutrition consists of dying aquatic plants and organic remains. In their natural habitat they are scavengers. Shrimp will not refuse the pleasure of feasting on the remains of dead fish or even juvenile fish.

Among plants, they prefer to feed on those with fleshy and succulent leaves, for example, ceratopteris. In the process of searching for food, shrimp use the organs of touch and smell. Turning its antennas in different directions, it looks around the area and tries to find prey.

In search of vegetation, certain species of shrimp that live closer to the equator dig up the soil of the reservoir. They run around its perimeter until they run into food, and then, approaching it within a centimeter, they suddenly attack it. Blind individuals living at the bottom of the Black Sea feed on silt, grinding it with their mandibles - well-developed jaws.

For shrimp grown in aquariums, specially developed compound feeds are produced, enriched nutrients and iodine. It is not recommended to feed them perishable vegetables.

As food you can use lightly boiled carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, dandelion leaves, clover, cherries, chestnuts, walnut. A real feast for a shrimp is the remains of an aquarium shrimp or its fellow shrimp.

Reproduction and lifespan of shrimp

During puberty, the female shrimp begins the process of forming eggs that resemble a green-yellow mass. When the female is ready to mate, she releases pheromones into the water - substances that have a specific odor.

Sensing this smell, the males become more active in search of a partner and fertilize her. This process takes no more than a minute. Then the shrimp produces caviar. The norm for an adult female is a clutch of 20-30 eggs. The embryonic development of larvae lasts from 10 to 30 days, depending on the ambient temperature.

During the process of embryogenesis, larvae go through 9-12 stages. At this time, changes occur in their structure: at the beginning, the jaws are formed, a little later - the cephalothorax. Most hatched larvae die due to unfavorable conditions or the “work” of predators. As a rule, 5-10% of the brood reach maturity. At shrimp farming in the aquarium it is possible to preserve up to 30% of the offspring.

The larvae lead a sedentary lifestyle and are not able to obtain food, feeding on the available food. Last stage The development of these mollusks is called decapodite. During this period, the larva leads a lifestyle no different from an adult shrimp. On average, the life cycle of a shrimp lasts from 1.5 to 6 years.

Shrimp, without a doubt bright decoration any aquarium. It is a rare aquarist who, having seen this aquatic organism, will not want to have it in his collection. And then the question of the great variety of species of these arthropods arises before him. After all, there are a huge variety of shrimp species for aquarium keeping, although their diversity is often underestimated. All, without exception, types of aquarium shrimp are equally similar to each other in structure, but differ greatly; there are small shrimp (1.8 cm) and truly large specimens (up to 35 cm) from each other in size. Of course, the coloring of the shrimp deserves special attention.

Classification issues

Classification of domestic shrimp is a complex and ambiguous issue because... There is no strict certainty on this issue. Of course, you can divide these aquarium inhabitants by size, color, origin, but this will entail even greater confusion and gossip. Strictly speaking, aquarium shrimp can definitely be divided in only two ways. By belonging to one or another family: Caridina, Neocaridina, Macrobrachium, Palaemonidae. Or by habitat - marine or freshwater, the latter, by the way, will be discussed later.

Within the crystal shrimp variety there is its own classification based on color.

All types of aquarium shrimp

As they say, it’s better to see once than to hear many times, in our case read, so let’s get to the heart of the matter, so what types of shrimp are there and what conditions do they require?

Amano

Caridina multidentata, Caridina japonica, Amano Shrimp.

A peaceful inhabitant of freshwater aquariums. The appearance is quite primitive - translucent coloring of gray-blue shades with randomly located dots (in males) and strokes (in females) on the sides. An excellent cleaner and simply an irreplaceable fighter against thread.

They live in both small and large groups, but because... The Amano shrimp is quite difficult to breed; it is recommended to keep a flock of at least 10 individuals.

• Natural habitat: Korea, Taiwan, Yamato River in Japan.
• The size of the female is 5-6 cm, the male is 3-4 cm.
• Water parameters – temperature 23-27C, pH 7.2 – 7.5, hardness dH 2 – 20°.

Harlequin

Harlequin Shrimp.

This shrimp is truly miniature and partly for this reason it is very shy. Leads a nocturnal and twilight lifestyle. The complexity of the character is more than compensated by its outstanding appearance - the white and red coloration, outlined in black, is reminiscent of the harlequin from DC Comics, which is what the arthropod owes its name to.

• In nature, it lives in Indonesia on the island of Sulawesi.
• Size 0.6 – 1.3 cm.
• Lives in an aquarium from a year to a year and a half.
• Suitable parameters are temperature 26-29°C, acidity pH 7.2-8.4, hardness dH 15-25°.

White Pearl

Snowball, Snowflake, Neocaridina cf. zhangjiajiensis var. White, White Pearl Shrimp, Snowball Shrimp.

This artificially bred beauty is unpretentious in maintenance and is suitable even for beginners. Its quiet and even gentle disposition makes it an excellent pet, provided that there are no predatory, very active or aggressive fish among its neighbors. Any aquarium will be decorated with a grayish-white arthropod, transparent like glass, so much so that it is not at all difficult to distinguish a female from a male. In female representatives, the ovaries are visible in the light, and the caviar is completely white, reminiscent of snow, for which the shrimp received the nickname Snowflake.

They feel best in a group of 10 to 20 individuals.

• Not found in nature. Artificially bred by German breeder Ulf Gottschalk.
• Length 2 – 2.5 cm.
• Longevity of life is no more than 2 years.
• Conditions in the aquarium: temperature – 20-28°C, hardness – 6-20°, pH no more than 7.5.

Blue Pearl

Blue neocaridina, Blue shrimp, Blue Pearl Shrimp, Crystal Blue shrimp, Ice Blue, Ice blue, Blue ice.

It was bred by crossing blue neocardina with white individuals.

The color can change depending on the mood and well-being, and the more the color fades, the worse the arthropod feels. It is best to observe a pearl in a flock of 10 or more individuals in a spacious aquarium, at least 60 - 80 liters.

• China is the birthplace and region of selection.
• Standard size 2.5cm.
• 18-29°C, 6.8-7.5 Ph, dGH 2-25.
• Life cycle 2 years.

Atyidae is the common name for aquarium freshwater shrimp.

Blue neocardine

Blue neocardine, blue dream.

Brightly colored peaceful shrimp. There are difficulties regarding the reproduction of this species; the offspring often turn out greenish, gray-brown, or even completely transparent; the “blue” gene must be constantly fixed. Like most Atyidae, they feel best in a group of 10-20 individuals.

• The result of the work of German and Japanese breeders. First introduced to the public in the United States in 2006.
• The size of females is up to 3 cm, males up to 2.
• Lifespan is about 2 years.
• T° 18-28 degrees Celsius, pH 6.5 - 7.5, average hardness 2-25.

Blue brindle

Blue Tiger.

The most striking distinctive feature of these tigers is their orange eyes, which have not been seen in other aquarium arthropods. Despite the exotic appearance and high price, they are not whimsical in maintenance.

They require frequent infusions of fresh “blood” because due to inbreeding during the selection process they are prone to degeneration.

• Not found in nature. Bred from ordinary tiger shrimp.
• They live up to a maximum of 2 years.
• The average size is 2-2.5 cm.
• Acceptable water parameters: temperature from 15 to 30, acidity 6.5 -7.5 (they reproduce better in more acidic water), hardness from 1 to 15.

Blue aura

Aura Blue Dwarf Shrimp.

The Blue Aura shrimp is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in the genus Atyidae, perhaps even the most beautiful of all blue shrimp and at the same time, as it often happens, quite mysterious. Information about the aura can be found at a minimum, this is due to the fact that it settled in aquariums (especially Russian ones) quite recently, below is the most important information, in our opinion.

They reproduce easily and willingly; an experienced female carries up to 30 larvae under her tail. Despite the rarity, the conditions of detention are very prosaic; for a small flock, a 10-liter aquarium with high-quality water is enough, which will be changed frequently. The aura also has an unusual feature that cannot be ignored! After molting, this aquatic organism becomes almost transparent, but don’t worry, within a week the color will be restored and will delight you again.

• Origin: Thailand.
• Life expectancy is maximum 2 years.
• Size 2-3cm.
• Options aquarium water 23-25°, pH 7-7.5, medium hardness.

Blue-footed bee

Blue Leg shrimp, Blue Poso shrimp, Caridina ensifera Blue, Caridina Blue Tail, Peacock.

The appearance of the blue-legged bee is more than remarkable and is unlikely to leave any aquarist indifferent. Body gray, blue spots on the tail (for which the crustacean was nicknamed Peacock), blue legs and bright red antennae - antennae.

Bees have a peaceful disposition and easily get along with both non-aggressive species of arthropods and peace-loving fish.

• Natural habitat: Lake Poso, Indonesia, Sulawesi Islands.
• Maximum size 3cm.
• Life expectancy is two to three years.
• Water parameters – temperature 28-30°C, pH 7.5 – 8.5, hardness dH 7-15°, effective aeration is required.

Yellow shrimp

Lemon, Yellow Pearl, Canary.

The canary's calling card is, of course, its bright yellow color. This is the only representative of aquarium arthropods with this color, however, with age, the pet acquires an orange tint, which does not make it any less cute.

If they are undernourished, they can eat all the vegetation around them.

• Not found in nature.
• The size of the yellow shrimp is 2.5 - 3 cm.
• Maximum age 2, rarely 3 years
• Optimal conditions: water 15 – 28°C, acidity 6.8-8.0 Ph.

Green shrimp

Babaulti, caridina babaulti, Green Midget shrimp.

The bright and active green babaulti shrimp was discovered in India during an expedition and described in 1918. This species has often been subjected to selection; currently 5 color variations are known - blue, white red-nosed, brown, orange. The most common color found in aquariums is green, most of which were brought from India, and only a small part was born in aquariums.

• Homeland India (small rivers and streams)
• Size up to 3.5cm
• Water: Temperature from 20 to 28, hardness – 5-20, acidity – 6.5-8. Aeration and frequent water changes of about 20% of the volume are required.

Cardinal

Cardinal Shrimp and Caridina sp. "Cardinal", Denerli, Caridina dennerli.

Many atyidae have a bizarre, memorable appearance, but even among them, the Cardinal, which recently appeared in aquariums, stands out very clearly. The color ranges from red to cherry, and the always-on-trend white polka dots on the sides. Thin and long legs and a sharp nose only add aristocracy to Cardinal Shrimp. Despite the apparent simplicity, keeping these arthropods has a lot of pitfalls and is therefore for beginners this type doesn't fit!

• Natural habitat: Indonesia, rocky areas of Lake Matano on the island of Sulawesi.
• Size 1 – 2cm.
• Water parameters – temperature 26 – 29C, pH 7 – 9, hardness dH 9-15.

Macrobrachnums, Macrobrachium assamense.

The ring-armed shrimp is a relatively large species for an aquarium arthropod. Females reach a size of 5 cm, males are even larger and grow up to 7. The marbled color, like many other species, depends on nutrition and soil. One claw is larger than the other, but this is clearly visible only in large male individuals.

Macrobrahnums are aggressive towards each other and towards other neighbors. Although they are predominantly nocturnal, they are ready to actively stalk prey at any time. Therefore, forget about the idea of ​​keeping ringed fish with other arthropods or small fish. For these tireless hunters, large fish of at least 5 cm, living in medium and upper layers home pond.

• They live in nature in the Eastern Himalayas, in local mountain lakes and rivers.
• The length reaches 7cm.
• Longevity of life is 1.5 – 3 years.
• Conditions in the aquarium: temperature – 21-25°C, hardness – 10-20°, pH 7 – 7.5. Enhanced filtration and aeration are required, as well as weekly water changes; if it is cold, this will have a positive effect on life expectancy.

A minimum of 10-15 liters is required per individual. Requires school keeping - 1 male and several females.

Halocaridina rubra.

The owner of a non-trivial appearance, the red Hawaiian shrimp, in a stressful situation, ceases to be red! The color fades and the animal disguises itself as environment. The character is peaceful and accommodating, but the shrimp itself can become the subject of hunting for other inhabitants of the aquarium.

There are companies that sell Hawaiian red shrimp in sealed "ecospheres". The shrimp in them slowly dies before your eyes, and this process can last up to 3 years. All this time, the shrimp feeds only on its shell from molt to molt. Halocaridina rubra is a very tenacious and immensely patient creature.

• In good conditions, the maximum recorded lifespan of this baby is 20 years.
• As the name implies, it lives in Hawaii.
• The standard size does not exceed 1.2 cm.
• The life cycle is on average 8 – 10 years.
• Surprisingly, both salt and fresh water are suitable for life. With a temperature of 20 - 23 degrees, although it can tolerate a range of 15-30 ° C, pH 8.2 - 8.4.

Red shrimp

Neocardina heteropoda, Cherry, Cherry.

The most popular and widely known species of aquarium arthropod. Bright, unpretentious, readily breeding Cherries have long and happily inhabited the home ponds of aquarists around the world. Read more about Cherry shrimp on our website.

• Neocardina, the species from which cherries were bred, lives in Taiwan.
• Size up to 4 cm.
• Lifespan is about 3 years.
• T° 20 – 29 degrees Celsius, pH 6-8, hardness up to 15°dH. Be sure to have plants and mosses in which the cherries can hide.

The species obtained as a result of selection of the red shrimp is not much different from it, with the exception of a much brighter and more saturated color ranging from red to cherry.

Also bred in Taiwan from the species Neocardina heteropoda and differs from its ancestor in that this shrimp is orange from head to toe. Orange fire fry are born lighter in color for their own protection, but as they live, the color becomes more saturated and bright.

Red crystal

Red Bee, Crystal Red Shrimp, Red Bee.

Aquarium crystals are peaceful and have a very memorable appearance, for which they have gained great popularity all over the world. Within this species, as well as among its predecessor the Bee shrimp, there is a whole own hierarchy of colors. Thus, some types of red bees, for example, Snow White, which will be mentioned below, are very expensive, and some have a very affordable price.

• The result of selection work. The first Crystal Red Shrimp was created by Japanese breeder Hisayasu Suzuki in 1993 while breeding classic black-striped bees.
• The size of females is up to 2.5 cm, males up to 2 cm.
• Lifespan is about 2 years.
• T° 20 -27 degrees Celsius, pH 5.5 - 7, average hardness 4-6. Very sensitive to dirty water– do not forget about filtration and weekly replacement of at least a third of the volume of the aqua.

Caridina cf. cantonensis “Snow White”.

Snow White is a Red Crystal species.

Snow white shrimp is one of the types of red bee shrimp. Snow Whites meet varying degrees whiteness and, of course, the most valuable are completely white specimens, and the least valuable, in turn, are arthropods with a predominant area of ​​​​transparent body segments. The conditions for its maintenance are somewhat different from traditional crystals:

• The adult size is up to 3 cm.
• The average life length is 2-4 years.
• Required temperature - 25–30°C, hardness - 1–10, acidity - 6.0–7.5 pH.

Red ruby

Caridina cf. cantonensis “Red Ruby”.

Another representative of the crystal genus. In contrast to Snow White, it is absolutely not whimsical, withstands a huge range of acidity and hardness, but in “home” selection, the offspring may not become as bright as its parents, and so on over and over again.

• Size up to 3.5 cm, other parameters do not differ from the ancestor described above - the Red Bee.

As a rule, the higher the class of shrimp, the more difficult it is to care for.

In 2009, the Ruby Red shrimp set a record for its high price - it was bought at auction for 4,800 euros.

Caridina cantonensis sp. Red Tiger.

Red tiger shrimp in its natural environment habitat is perfectly camouflaged - the light beige body of the arthropod is surrounded by thin red stripes, and the bottom of its native reservoirs is covered with red stones - there the shrimp is invisible, and in the aquarium it is impossible not to pay attention to it! It goes well with peaceful small fish and contrasts beautifully with plants.

• In nature, it lives in the reservoirs of southern China.
• They live on average up to 2 years.
• The size reaches 3.5 cm.
• Acceptable water parameters: temperature from 25 to 30, acidity 6.5 -7.8, hardness from 1 to 15 dGH.

Red Noice Shrimp, Pinocchio, Rudolph, Rhino, Rhino.

I would compare the red-nosed shrimp to an arrow - thin, sharp, graceful, this ten-legged beauty will not leave you indifferent! The body of the shrimp is almost transparent, but the shade can change depending on the mood of the shrimp. Thus, a milky tint indicates illness in living creatures.

In its natural environment, this shrimp is a vegetarian, so if there is a lack of vegetation in its diet, it will happily consume aquarium plants.

• Homeland India and Southeast Asia. Reservoirs with standing water or very weak currents.
• Females reach a size of 4 cm, males 2.5.
• Necessary conditions: temperature 20-28°C, acidity pH 6.4-7.5, hardness dH 8-15°, water must be brackish 8-10 grams of table salt per liter of water, do not forget about this when choosing neighbors for the red-nosed beauty and plants for decorating the aquarium.

Macrobrachium sp. “Inle-See.”

Inle Lake is located in Myanmar (Southeast Asia), it is a truly large body of water, its size is 22 km by 10 km, and the mysterious Inle Lake shrimp lives here. This arthropod belongs to the Palaemonidae species of shrimp and is a carnivore. The appearance is modest - a transparent body with reddish stripes and strokes of various types.

• In nature they live, as the name suggests, in Inle Lake.
• The length reaches 3cm.
• Conditions in the aquarium: temperature – 25-29°C, hardness – 5-9°, pH 6-7.5.

Mandarin duck

Orange Sunkist Shrimp, Tangerine Shrimp, Caridina sp. Orange Borneo, Caridina thambipillai, Fanta Shrimp, Orange Soda Shrimp.

Peaceful and funny, just like its name, the Mandarin shrimp is a typical representative of the genus Caridina. The transparent body is orange, sometimes with reddish dots and streaks on the sides. They can only be kept in a flock, preferably at least 8 individuals.

• They live in the wild on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia.
• Life expectancy is no more than 2 years.
• Length. Females reach 3 cm, males do not grow larger than 2.5.
• Conditions in the aquarium: temperature - 20-28 ° C, hardness -6-15 °, pH 6.5-8.

Nigerian shrimp

Nigerian shrimp, Atiya, Cameroon filter feeder.

A more than unusual aquarium shrimp Atiya. It is very large for an aquarium, its color is more than modest from grayish blue to bleached blue, but what The most interesting thing is that she has no claws! The thing is that the Nigerian shrimp lives in reservoirs with strong currents and obtains its food by filtration. A peaceful and interesting arthropod, it will never offend your fish.

• Live in western Africa
• The size of an adult female reaches 18 cm, males are smaller - a maximum of 14.
• Water parameters: T 23-28°C, pH 6.5 – 7.5.

Desmocaris trispinosa.

You can confuse the Nigerian swimming shrimp and Atia (which was mentioned above) only by name, because outwardly these arthropods are complete antipodes of each other. The NPK is small and transparent in appearance, generally inconspicuous and interesting mainly for its unusual method of movement for shrimps; it seems to hover and float above the surface.

• Homeland - Africa.
• Temperature - 25–29°C, pH - 6.0–7.5, hardness - 6–9 dGH.

Another serious difference between the NPK and the Nigerian shrimp is that the latter requires a strong current, while the former prefers completely stagnant water.

Ninja

Caridina – serratirostris, Ninja Shrimp, honey or Christmas shrimp.

Ninja shrimp have their mysterious name for a reason, and among their many nicknames, “chameleon” is missing. We have already written that some shrimp are capable of changing color during stress, fright, or, conversely, courting a female; a ninja is a completely different matter; it is an unrivaled master of camouflage. Watching a shrimp change color depending on what pebble it sits on is a real pleasure! In addition, there are no difficulties in keeping this arthropod, but the excellent resume of caridina – serratirostris is overshadowed, only by the fact that reproduction in an aquarium requires titanic efforts and, as a result, is almost impossible.

• Region of origin – Asia, more precisely Japan, Philippine, Polynesian islands, Fiji island, Madagascar island.
• Life expectancy is on average 2-3 years.
• The size of the male is up to 2.5 cm, females are 1 cm larger.
• Water parameters: temperature 22-27°C, acidity 6.4-7.3, hardness dH 6-20°.

Macrobrachium carcinus.

This article has already written about shrimp of the genus Macrobrachium, and the main thing you should remember about them is that almost all representatives of this predator species, so you should choose their neighbors very carefully; the long-clawed shrimp is no exception.

Males perform a very entertaining mating dance for females, but due to natural shyness, the arthropod dances only in the dark.

In their homeland in the countries of Central and South America, Macrobrachium carcinus itself is the subject of hunting; local residents eat them.

• Natural habitat is fast large streams of Central and South America.
• Average size 30 -35cm.
• Maintenance requirements are as simple as possible - warm, clean water from 22 to 27°C, and a strong current.

Bee

Caridina cantonensis sp. “Bee” – Black Bee Shrimp.

Bees include many other shrimp-bearing different names, but the history of appearance and living conditions of these arthropod relatives are the same. Therefore, when reading about the bee shrimp, keep in mind that it talks about: striped bee, black bee, princess bee, King Kong shrimp, Panda shrimp, Bumblebee shrimp, Black Diamond (aka black tiger) and some others.

The bee has almost equal proportions of black and white, the shrimp Black Diamond, King Kong are almost black, the Panda has white areas at the junction of the cephalothorax and rostrum, as well as stripes on the abdomen.

The higher the class of black diamonds (as well as the red ones, which we have already discussed), the more complex their content, and King Kongs, for example, almost never breed in amateur aquariums.

• Country of origin: Taiwan (man-bred).
• Average life expectancy is 1.5 years.
• Size – up to 3.5 cm.
• Necessary conditions: temperature 20-26°C, acidity pH 6.0-6.8, hardness Gh 2-5 °dH.

Riley

Riley Shrimp.

The light and weightless Riley shrimp was bred from the genus Neocaridina heteropoda by the famous breeder Suzuki Hisuasu among aquarists. The red rili were the first to appear and they were so loved by the aquarium community that soon orange, blue, yellow ones appeared... The value of the Rili Shrimp depends on how much of the shrimp's body is transparent. This active little one searches for food all day, swimming around the aquarium.

• Launched in Taiwan in 1996.
• Length on average 2 cm.
• Water: temperature 18-28°C, acidity pH 6.4 – 7.6, hardness dH 4-14°.

Indian, Asian, Thai, Herb shrimp. Ghost, GLASS SHRIMP, Palaemonetes paludosus.

There are 2 types of relatively large glass shrimp, extremely similar in appearance, so we will divide them according to their habitat into Asian and North American. Both are transparent, for which they were nicknamed “glass”; the Asian one has the nickname Grass Shrimp, and the American one is often called the Ghost.

Both of them can build their own shelters if sand or very fine gravel is used as soil. Large individuals can show aggression during the breeding season; to avoid this, stick to the proportion of 1 shrimp: 4 liters of water or more.

• The average lifespan is 1-2 years, rarely longer.
• Size up to 5 cm females, males maximum 4 cm, both in good conditions.
• Here's a look at good conditions The contents of these shrimp are different:
• Asians. Water temperature 20-28 degrees, acidity pH 6.5-7.5, hardness does not matter.
• Americans. Temperature 18-29 degrees, acidity pH – 6.5-7.5, hardness GH – 5-8.
• For both, it is necessary to have high-quality filtration and aeration, as well as weekly water changes of up to 20% of the aquarium volume.

Filter Anopsis

Atyopsis moluccensis, banana, bamboo, forest shrimp.

The appearance of Anopsis is unlikely to make you fall in love with it. Brown stripes on its yellowish body make it invisible in nature, but this crustacean does not intend to hide in an aquarium. He will definitely occupy some peak and begin to catch food with his paws - fans (which replaced claws). This is a very interesting and even bewitching sight. If the filter feeder begins to spend more time at the bottom in search of food, it means that it is malnourished, because its feeding method is not entirely normal and it is more difficult for it to get enough than others.

• Homeland - Southeast Asia.
• Maximum age 2 years.
• Length 6-10cm.
• Comfortable parameters: temperature 23-29C, acidity pH: 6.5-7.5, hardness dH: 6-15.

Leander modestus.

This is perhaps the only aquarium shrimp whose native reservoirs are located, including on the territory of the Russian Federation.

The Leander's appearance is not very expressive - an almost transparent body and very long antennae, sometimes longer than its owner. But you can watch this shrimp around the clock, because, unlike many of their counterparts, they are active even during the day. They live in peace and harmony with the fish, they play the role of a cleaner perfectly, picking at the ground with small claws. Conflicts within the group are possible if there is not enough space in the aquarium. One Khankai shrimp should contain at least 7-10 liters.

• Region of natural residence – Far East, Lake Khanka, etc.
• The body size of females is 3-4 cm, males, as is most often the case with arthropods, are smaller; their length varies from 2 to 2.5 cm.
• Hankaika requires very clean water, so you can’t skimp on a filter. 24-hour aeration is required. The temperature is tolerated at 15-30 °C, although it is better, of course, not to take it to extremes and stay in the range of 20 -24 °C. Ideal option will happen if in winter the water temperature in the aquarium drops and in the spring, closer to summer, rises in order to get closer to the natural annual cycle. Hardness no less than 10. No special requirements for acidity.

Caridina Simoni Simoni.

The small, transparent Ceylon shrimp is interesting, first of all, for its active behavior - it actively scurries around the aquarium all day in search of food and does not at all try to hide anywhere. Color varies from brownish and greenish to blue.

• Homeland Malaysia, Philippine Islands, Sri Lanka, Sumatra, Java.
• Length 1.8-2.5 cm.
• Maintenance requirements: strong aeration and filtration, weekly water changes of at least 1/3. water temperature 20-30°C, acidity pH 5.5-8, hardness dH 3-15°.

Macrobrachium nipponense.

A very elegant Japanese shrimp resembles a glass figurine - a transparent, slightly brownish body with a contrasting black stripe on a third of its length, brick-red claws for males and orange for females, and beady eyes complete the picture.

The character is nasty and even aggressive, so the only neighbors of this species can be arthropods of similar size and fish that will not give themselves offense.

In the group, maintain a balance of 1 male -2.3 females.

• They live naturally in Japan, which becomes obvious from the name.
• Size 6-8cm.
• Water temperature 26-30, acidity pH 6.4-6.8, hardness does not matter.

Bottom line

Whatever type of shrimp you choose for yourself, remember a few simple rules that will help you and make life easier for your pets:

1. Copper is contraindicated for any type of shrimp. Be careful, because it is contained in many medicines for fish.
2. Any arthropod (and fish will be grateful) must live in a clean environment, so think about the issue of filtration and water changes in advance.
3. The presence of plants in the aquarium is mandatory. It is better if these are mosses and small-leaved ones for small species and larger ones for large-sized arthropods.
4. If you are planning to do breeding, theoretically the crossing is possible as follows: Caridina + Caridina, Macrobrachium + Macrobrachium, Neocaridina + Neocaridina, etc. Shrimp belonging to different families not only do not interbreed, but can also conflict when kept together. However, one should not conclude that any species can be crossed within one family. The issue of shrimp reproduction is delicate and individual, but if you decide to start breeding these animals, you will not regret it.

The world of aquarium shrimp is more than diverse and everyone can find a shrimp to suit their taste.

Shrimp are an infraorder of crustaceans from the order Decapods. Widely distributed throughout the seas of the whole world, many species have mastered fresh waters.

The size of adult individuals of different representatives varies from 2 to 30 cm.

Most of the colorful species on the market come from China, Japan, Southeast Asia and India. Large number families and countless genera of shrimp live in the sea, some genera also inhabit fresh waters. The desire to obtain more colorful forms of shrimp has resulted in numerous breeding attempts and the search for new, brightly colored species. In turn, interspecific crossings and selection work have led to the fact that shrimp with extremely bright colors can now be found on sale in pet stores.

Representatives

Structure

They have a rather complex structure, especially expressed in large quantities legs, which in shrimp perform a wide variety of functions, from movement to breathing. The shrimp's body is divided into two main parts: the cephalothorax, on which the faceted eyes and most of the limbs are located, including antennae and walking legs, and the abdominal part, on which auxiliary limbs are located that help the shrimp when swimming and bearing young.

In these animals, three anterior thoracic segments are fused with the head, five pairs of hind legs are used for movement, the forelimbs are transformed into jaws, with which they carry food to the mouth. The head and chest are protected by the carapace, the gills are hidden under its edges. The limbs of the last segment of the abdomen have changed into wide plates that form a tail fan, thanks to which the shrimp can make sharp jumping swimming movements. Oral apparatus represents well developed jaws(mandibles) used for grinding food. The blade located on the jaws ensures the movement of water in the gills. The anterior end of the carapace is extended into a sharp awl-shaped rostrum (beak or nose). The abdominal legs (pleopods) are used for swimming, and in females, for bearing offspring. In males, the first pair of abdominal legs has transformed into a copulatory organ.

The eyes of shrimps are stalked and can turn in different directions, which provides a wide view. In search of food and shelter, shrimp use not so much vision as smell, touch and the “chemical sense”. These functions are performed by antennae. At the base of the antennae there is an organ of balance - a statocyst.

Conditions of detention

Shrimp molt regularly. During this time (two or three days before molting and one or two after it) they do not feed. Having freed themselves from the old shell, the shrimp take refuge in thickets of plants, under stones or in other shelters. After molting, their integuments are soft, and for some time, until the shell becomes hard, the animals are defenseless. The shell is often eaten by shrimp - it contains minerals necessary for a new chitinous cover. After molting, shrimp recover damaged and lost limbs. In young people this happens faster, in adults it happens gradually, over two or three molts.

Freshwater shrimp

Freshwater aquarium shrimp are becoming increasingly popular among aquarists due to their interesting behavior and peaceful disposition. Small shrimp can be kept in small aquariums in the company of small fish.

Shrimp are very sensitive to oxygen deficiency, so the water must be aerated. They can live at temperatures from 15 to 30 °C. At 26-30 °C they are active, at 18 °C and below they become sluggish. Sharp fluctuations in water temperature in the aquarium are unacceptable.

A part of the aquarium that is densely overgrown with plants will serve as a refuge for the shrimp, and they will happily clean the snags, on which many tiny organisms usually live. The bottom soil in a shrimp aquarium should consist of gravel with a particle size of 3 to 5 mm, which allows a weak flow of water to penetrate into the soil and, accordingly, ensures good plant growth. It’s good if there is a lot of moss in the aquarium, especially Javanese. Moss provides shrimp with a large surface area from which they can eat microorganisms, and the sludge that accumulates under the moss serves as an additional source of food.

Since shrimp lead a secretive lifestyle, you can start a separate aquarium for observation and breeding - [[shrimp tank].

Sea shrimp

Marine shrimps are also cleaners and marine aquariums. They are not very aggressive. The maximum aggression they are capable of is to fight with the same shrimp using whisker swords. Many reef aquarium owners, having caught a shrimp dissecting the corpse of a dead fish or invertebrate, place all the blame on it, but this is nothing more than a misconception. Shrimp are aquarium orderlies, not killers.

Behavior

Shrimp are ideal for the aquarium. Small shrimps do not prey on fish or spoil plants, so they can be kept together with small peaceful fish species. Large fish regard small shrimp as a pleasant addition to lunch. When keeping shrimp and fish together, it is usually difficult to preserve any juvenile shrimp after the larval stage, including for species that breed in fresh water, since even the smallest fish readily eat the larvae.

In addition to small freshwater shrimp, large shrimp are also sold in stores. For example, Nigerian shrimp is a large filter feeder. But even such large shrimps have a peaceful disposition. However, there are exceptions, such as the Rosenberg shrimp and the chameleon shrimp.

Nutrition

Shrimp feed on a variety of food: dying aquatic plants and other organic remains, aquatic insects, polychaetes, tubifex, bloodworms, daphnia, and coretra. They also eat plants, preferring soft-leaved ones (such as ceratopteris). They eagerly eat dead fish, snails and other animals, and do not refuse dry food.

Reproduction

The process of shrimp reproduction is very interesting. As noted, in the male the anterior pleopods were transformed into a special organ - the gonopodium. Having found by smell a female who molts before mating, he uses the gonopodium to attach spermatophores (sacs with sexual fluid) at her genital opening. A young male up to 8-10 mm in size can fertilize five females, while large older individuals (15-20 mm) can fertilize only one. The time interval between mating and laying eggs is from several days to two weeks. The eggs remain hanging on the female’s pleopods until the larvae hatch. At this time, she hides in a shelter.

During the breeding season, it is better to place shrimp in a separate aquarium, where the female calmly breeds her offspring. IN community aquarium it will be eaten by fish and other shrimp. Juveniles are very different from adults. She is very sensitive to unfavorable conditions and often dies.

Crossing shrimp is possible in some cases: see the compatibility table for shrimp species.