Why most of my supershrimp white and pink color?

[Erlina _rusli]

After almost 2 months , most of ny shrimps none real red color? They look healthy and active.
And have babies larvae second mom. And 2 more berried .
See pic

[SuperProofer]

That's just the way they are. These shrimps have a vast range of colors between pale and dark red they can fall into. I've had Trooper for 8 years and the darkest he's ever been is a pale orange. In my current tanks, I have shrimps ranging from pale white to dark red. There is no hard and fast rule that they will all be red. I'd say, these are just the colors your shrimps are going to be. I wouldn't worry that it means anything is wrong with them provided they are active and multiplying.

[Erlina _rusli]

Thanks for the reply!
I just wondering maybe the ones from wild (super shrimp) would be more red color?
Thanks again

[Malikta]

I think the chances of ALL of them being naturally pale are unlikely - where did you purchase from? Petshrimp.com? Out of the 10 I received, 9 are properly red. I'm thinking that is going to be the case for most of us.

Do you have kids or other pets? Mine turn that color when my son is in my office banging around and shouting while playing. Also when I kept disrupting their tank, vacuuming etc.

The last thing that would affect their color is their light source. Out of my 14, only 2 stay pale - the others go from orange to deep red.

Just my experience, hope that helps.

[Erlina _rusli]

Hi thanks for the writing
Really? Son shouting could affecting the shrimp tank?
I have a daughter but never thought of that. I bought from petshrimp and other source.
What about light source? I have LED light source, is it being to dark or too light?

[Malikta]

Hi thanks for the writing
Really? Son shouting could affecting the shrimp tank?
I have a daughter but never thought of that. I bought from petshrimp and other source.
What about light source? I have LED light source, is it being to dark or too light?

In my opinion, yes. He's bouncing around, the floor shakes (my office is on the second floor), he bumps into the cabinet the tank is on. They immediately pale when he's playing in my office. Over the weekend, when I'm not working (or any time my son doesn't come in for several days) they are red again. Also over 2 weeks I had my hands in the tank a few times putting in plants, moving things around - THEY HATE IT.

I don't use an LED light anymore, my snails were dropping dead and my macroalgae was dying so I've moved to natural light. But before I had the LED light, they were in a corner of my office that was mostly shaded. So they stayed pale - even when I thought things were going perfect. Added a good LED light and they were redder than I've ever seen.

Now that I've got them on just natural light (but a better position to grab more) - they are consistently red. But a few gloomy days in a row and their color fades. So to me distruption and not adaquet lighting. I live in California and the temp doesn't drop in the house much but I think temperature is also something to look at.

Like you said, berried female so something is going right but all of them that pale, doesn't seem like a coincidence to me.

[Varanus]

I notice your substrate is bright white. Other species of shrimp tend to turn darker when the substrate is dark, though I don't know if it applies to these guys (they seem to use their vision very little as adults). But yeah, so many being consistently pale is odd, there are usually some individuals that are always pale but a majority should usually be a deeper pink or red.

I'll echo Malikta that stress will turn them pale as well, but I find it hard to imagine what source of stress could have kept these pale for two months straight, when normally they will calm down from most any disturbance within a few hours to a day or so.

I notice too that at least one shrimp in the picture is a light pink so there is some color variation. Perhaps you simply had the odd luck of getting a bunch that are naturally pale or light pink in color? If so, hopefully the genes for darker colors will come out in future generations. Some may also darken up as they get older

[Erlina _rusli]

Thanks varanus
Yes , i asked this because of only few like 2-3 only that are deep in red color.
So i also have very white color too but im looking for deep red color.
My deep red color is berried now hopefully she makes red babies

[Erlina _rusli]

I just think there are different varieties of color depends on which island of hawaii they came from?

[Erlina _rusli]

I've just read:
The oahu opae ula are more pale throughout and sometimes with red band or with the red head.
I really believe that opae ula of mine mostly from oahu island?
But i prefer red ones deep red...
If not deep red it would look like the mosquitos larvae lol
Just remind me of those mosquito larva

[Varanus]

I think I recall Mustafa saying it doesn't really matter where in Hawaii they come from. His all came from one area but they exhibit the full range of color variation. Then again, maybe some colors are more prevalent in certain areas, just not dependent on it.

[Mustafa]

As Varanus said, you can't really externally tell where the shrimp are from...coloration varies everywhere. However, I can tell that your tank has LOTS of organic matter as I see cyanobacteria and lots of bubbling in the pictures you posted in the past and in this thread. That can affect coloration. I don't recall if you have snails, but those will help. Also, just stop feeding completely until all that organic matter is eaten up and disappears. You may then gradually see the shrimp turn much redder.

[Wendy]

As Varanus said, you can't really externally tell where the shrimp are from...coloration varies everywhere. However, I can tell that your tank has LOTS of organic matter as I see cyanobacteria and lots of bubbling in the pictures you posted in the past and in this thread. That can affect coloration. I don't recall if you have snails, but those will help. Also, just stop feeding completely until all that organic matter is eaten up and disappears. You may then gradually see the shrimp turn much redder.

Now I can relate. My Opae is much redder before the algae blooms in my tank. Now, they are mostly white, only one remain red.