Color in Cherries

[lampeye]

Okay, "mood and food" make a difference in the red color of cherry red shrimp (why can't we just call them cherry shrimp so as to avoid confusion with CRS?), but does anyone know for sure: Are we dealing with a carotenoid pigment in the shrimp, or is the mutation simply producing a defective version of melanin? In simpler terms, does feeding a carotenoid-rich food enhance the red color of cherry shrimp?

[Cableguy]

what kinds of foods would be rich enough to promote it if it was because of the caratene?

[lampeye]

There are a number of commercial foods with color enhancers added, and a number of vegetables contain high amounts of carotenoids.

I'll take the deafening silence as a big ol' "I dunno."

[Neonshrimp]

Hi lampeye and hi Cableguy, welcome to the forum I have used the color enhanced fish food with little or no improvement in my Cherry red shrimp. This may be because the foods are gear towards fish which have a different color process. I have seen the shrimp become darker red when the females are carrying eggs! So far I have not found a food that will increase the color of my shrimp but I have tried different environmental changes which seem to increase or drcrease color intensity. These include changes in lighting, substrates and water temp/pH. I made these changes in pursuit of finding the optimum conditions for healthy and active shrimp.

If you find something that really works in improving coloration in shrimp please share as I will do the same. Please keep us updated on your search/findings

[Neonshrimp]

Here is an old thread that might be useful:

viewtopic.php?t=556&highlight

[GunmetalBlue]

Hi Lampeye, just wanted to welcome you to the forum.

Sent some opinions your way via pm.

-GB

[badflash]

Let me summarize
A happy RCS is a red shrimp!

[lampeye]

I appreciate the responses, and thanks for the big welcome!