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Common Name:	Pearl Shrimp, Sand Shrimp
Scientific Name:	Macrobrachium kulsiense
Size:	less than 5cm
Temperature:	best kept at 72°F-80°F
Water Parameters:	Can live in soft to hard water, but needs very alkaline conditions over the long run. Probably does best at ph levels of 7.6 and above. should not be kept in acidic water at all.
Food:	fish food (flake, pellets etc), hair and string algae, "anything edible"
Origin:	India
Larval Development Type:	Completely Suppressed: Larvae assume a benthic lifestyle after hatching, i.e. they are miniature versions of the adults. There is no planktonic larval stage.

The Pearl Shrimp is one of the most unusual shrimp species in my tanks. It is one of very few sand burrowing shrimp species available in the market. They burrow little holes in the sand and sit in them for protection and "rest". If kept on a sand substrate they will show their full set of interesting behaviors. As might become evident from the pictures above and below, these shrimp are excellently adjusted to live on a sandy substrate. In my tanks their colors camouflage them so well on my sand substrate that it is quite hard to find them sometimes. However, when kept on a dark substrate their striking white, brown and striped patters show conspicuously. Because of their burrowing behavior and their perfect camouflage on a sand substrate I call this shrimp "Sand Shrimp" instead of Pearl Shrimp.

Although the Sand Shrimp is a Macrobrachium species, which are usually known for their predatory and aggressive behaviors, it is an extremely peaceful shrimp that will not harm any other shrimp or fish in the tank. This shrimp is usually very hard to get and extremely expensive, but I am in the process of breeding sufficient numbers of them, so I can offer them to shrimp enthusiasts in my Shrimp Shop on a regular basis.