Could this be a male Cherry?

[Suzie Q]

I posted on PTF earlier today, but I wanted a second opinion...this shrimp is my only hope of having a male in the bunch...he is on the green rock...the other is obviously a saddled female...





Sorry for the quality of the photos...he likes to hide, and this was at 6:30 this morning.

Thanks,
Lori

[Mustafa]

Looks like some type of male Neocaridina sp.. If you don't see *any* red on the male (i.e. not even little dots or hints of red) then it's most likely a male of some wild-colored Neocaridina sp., not necessarily the same species as the red cherry. Either way, it will crossbreed with your red cherries and you will have lots of not so red shrimp as a result (along with some red ones).

[Suzie Q]

Looks like some type of male Neocaridina sp.. If you don't see *any* red on the male (i.e. not even little dots or hints of red) then it's most likely a male of some wild-colored Neocaridina sp., not necessarily the same species as the red cherry. Either way, it will crossbreed with your red cherries and you will have lots of not so red shrimp as a result (along with some red ones).

I do believe "he" has some red on him, but not much...like I said, he is a little shy. I will try to get better pictures of him...or just look and conferm. I know he is not "wild caught" or anything...got him and the rest from a friend.

....confirmed male...YEAH!!!! Thank you!!!!

[Mustafa]

You're welcome. Getting it from a friend does not mean that it might not be a "wild-type" shrimp or a hybrid non-red shrimp as there are many (way too many) hybrid and mixed populations of "red cherry" shrimp out there. Many of our members here got mixed populations and then tried a very long time (some with, som without success) to separate out the red animals and establish a pure red population. If it's red shrimp you want, then you have to be careful about those "wild-type" or non-red Neocaridina sp. males that are floating around in the hobby.

[Suzie Q]

You're welcome. Getting it from a friend does not mean that it might not be a "wild-type" shrimp or a hybrid non-red shrimp as there are many (way too many) hybrid and mixed populations of "red cherry" shrimp out there. Many of our members here got mixed populations and then tried a very long time (some with, some without success) to separate out the red animals and establish a pure red population. If it's red shrimp you want, then you have to be careful about those "wild-type" or non-red Neocaridina sp. males that are floating around in the hobby.

I plan on being very selective in breeding. I have 2 of my biggest females...1 very red, and 1 pretty red...not to impressed with the color of the other 2 females. The "boy" looks quite simular to your picture, but it is still hard to tell...he is only 1/2 in (maybe). If it is ok to revive old threads, I will wait a few more weeks and get new pictures of him to post. If you feel he is a hybred, then I will be on the lookout for a "RCS" male...Thanks again.
Lori

[Suzie Q]

Great news...I have 3 boys!!!

One of the big females molted sometime today, and the 3 boys are zipping around the tank! YEAH!!! Hopefully I will be having babies soon!...or at least eggs!

One male is redder than the rest. I may seperate him and my 2 reddest females.