Odd Malawa shrimp

[Shrimparium]

I want to share what I found in my Malawa shrimp tank, it has an orange stripe at the carapace. I took all the plants and decoration out but couldn't find any other shrimp like that. I also got couple that look like snowball shrimp.
I started a topic at a planted tank forum to see if this is common but the members said they never seen one like that before in their Malawa tank.

[Mustafa]

Malawa shrimp can be very variable, although I have never seen one like this. Does the shrimp behave normally otherwise? If you have the space, I'd try to selectively breed this mutation. Do you have pictures of your normal Malawa shrimp?

[Shrimparium]

The shrimp is behaving normally like the other shrimp, I am in the process of selective breeding the Malawa shrimp, I started this topic at another forum showing the other Malawa shrimp and the breeding tank.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showt ... highlight=

[Mustafa]

Ok, thanks for the link and update. Good luck with your breeding project!

[Shrimparium]

A short video of the shrimp and his babies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pROpeDl8RaU

[Mustafa]

Thanks for sharing! Obviously, it will take several generations to select out this trait. You may not even get a single offspring in the first (sometimes even second) generation with this trait. But don't despair and give up, they may pop up eventually if this trait has a genetic basis (as opposed to being somehow environmental).

[Shrimparium]

I am planning on breeding him back with one of the offspring when they grow, I wish I had couple shrimp with orange band. is back breeding the only solution to get this mutation appear in next generations, is there any other tips/method to follow?

[Mustafa]

Yes, that's pretty much one of two related ways. The other way is to let the offspring breed among each other. The idea is that they all carry the gene, even if it does not express itself in this generation. With some luck, some shrimp with orange coloration will pop up here and there in the coming generations. If you have males and females of those, put them together for further breeding. If you have just females, pair them up with your current male (who would be their grandfather or, great-grandfather.. ) if he's still alive.

[Shrimparium]

Still no luck on getting offsprings to inherit the orange carapace. the father shrimp looks much better as it grows.

[Mustafa]

Thanks for the update! Give it a few more generations....

[spidershrimp75]

This very interesting. Cool looking shrimp.
Wish you nothing but the best in getting more offspring with this coloration

[Shrimparium]

Thank you all, I will do my best to get the offsprings to inherit the orange carapace.

[Shrimparium]

No luck yet.

[Mustafa]

Hang in there...I only had one red Malawa shrimp at some point...the next generation had none...nothing for a while...then multiple, now a colony with 60-70 percent red animals. Selective breeding can be very time-consuming and requires lots of patience.

[Shrimparium]

Thanks for the support, can't wait to get offspring similar to the father.
Is there any chance you can post a picture of the red Malawa? I am just curious to see how they look like.