Shrimp · Caridina cf. cantonensis

Crystal red shrimp care guide

Also called: CRS, Red crystal shrimp, Red bee shrimp, Crystal shrimp, Bee shrimp, Crystal black shrimp, CBS, Caridina cantonensis

Crystal red shrimp are tiny red-and-white bee shrimp bred in Japan and sold by pattern grade. They are peaceful and striking, but they need soft, slightly acidic and very stable water, which usually means RO water and an active soil substrate.

Crystal red shrimp need a tank of at least 10 gallons (38 L), a group of 10 or more, and water at 20–24°C (68–75°F) with a pH of 6–6.8. They grow to about 3 cm (1.2 in) and are peaceful.

Plan a tank with crystal red shrimpSee all tank mates

Crystal red shrimp quick facts

Scientific nameCaridina cf. cantonensis
FamilyAtyidae
OriginCaptive-bred only. Developed in Japan from the wild bee shrimp of southern China and Hong Kong
Adult size3 cm (1.2 in)
Minimum tank10 gallons (38 L)
Temperature20–24°C (68–75°F)
pH6–6.8
Hardness (GH)4–6 dGH
Group size10 or more (colony)
TemperamentPeaceful
Swims atBottom
DietOmnivore
Care levelModerate
Lifespan1–2 years
Safe with plants?Yes

Tank setup

A 10-gallon (38 L) tank or larger stays stable more easily than a smaller one. Use an active (buffering) soil that holds the pH low, and let it run for about a month first, because fresh soil can release ammonia. A sponge filter, moss and some leaf litter protect the babies and give everyone surfaces to graze.

How many crystal red shrimp in a tank?

The smallest common tank that suits crystal red shrimp is a 10 gallon. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.

TankCrystal red shrimp (alone)
3 gallonToo small
5 gallonToo small
10 gallon10–139
15 gallon10–209
20 gallon10–279
20 gallon long10–279
29 gallon10–405
40 gallon10–559
55 gallon10–769
75 gallon10–1049
125 gallon10–1748

What you need for crystal red shrimp

Sized for a 10 gallon tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 10 crystal red shrimp. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.

Tank and equipment

Food and extras for crystal red shrimp

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Water parameters

Keep them at 20–24 °C (68–75 °F), pH 6.0–6.8, GH 4–6 and KH 0–2, with TDS around 100–180. Most keepers use RO or distilled water with a shrimp mineral added, since tap water is often too hard. Stability matters most: change small amounts of matching water each week, avoid temperature swings and keep copper out of the tank.

Best tank mates for crystal red shrimp

These popular species share crystal red shrimp' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 32 good matches.

Avoid keeping crystal red shrimp with

  • Angelfish: Angelfish eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Betta fish: Betta fish eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Common goldfish: Common goldfish eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Dwarf gourami: Dwarf gourami eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Fancy goldfish: Fancy goldfish eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Oscar: Oscar eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.

Feeding

In a mature tank they spend most of the day grazing biofilm and algae. Add a small amount of shrimp food a few times a week, plus the odd piece of blanched vegetable, and remove leftovers after two to three hours. Dried leaves such as Indian almond leaves grow extra biofilm for the babies.

Behavior

Completely peaceful and safe with plants, snails and other gentle shrimp. Almost any fish will eat the babies and many will eat adults, so a shrimp-only tank works best if you want the colony to grow. They do not crossbreed with cherry shrimp, but other bee and tiger shrimp (Caridina) can interbreed with them and spoil the pattern.

Breeding

They breed readily in a stable, mature tank. A female carries up to about 30 eggs under her tail for roughly a month, and the young hatch as tiny copies of the adults with no larval stage. Young shrimp mature in about three to five months. Warmer water speeds up breeding but raises the risk of disease and losses.

Tips from experienced keepers

  • Use RO or distilled water plus a shrimp GH mineral if your tap water is hard or has high KH.
  • Let new active soil run for about a month, and test that ammonia and nitrite read zero before adding shrimp.
  • Drip-acclimate over one to two hours. Sudden changes in TDS or pH often cause failed molts.
  • Keep the tank at or below 24 °C (75 °F). Warm water stresses them and invites infections.
  • Never use copper-based medicines or fertilizers in a shrimp tank.

Frequently asked questions

Are crystal red shrimp good for beginners?

Not really. They need soft, acidic, very stable water, which usually means RO water and active soil. Start with cherry shrimp and move to crystal reds once you can hold your water steady.

Can crystal red shrimp live with cherry shrimp?

They won't crossbreed, but they want different water. Cherry shrimp prefer harder, more alkaline water, so in a shared tank one of the two will not be at its best.

What do crystal red shrimp grades mean?

Grades describe the pattern. Lower grades show more red with patchy white, and higher grades show bolder, more solid white. Care is the same, but high-grade lines are often more inbred and can be more delicate.

Sources

We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.