Petshrimp.com Discussion Forum

What do you think they are?

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Looks like a ninja shrimp.

Ooooooo Ninja Shrimp.....

It would be sweet if thats what they were. But i'm a little biased, since I think Ninjas rock.

-John (AKA: The Puffer Ninja)

Yes, they look like C. serratirostris or one of its subspecies.

I ask because the exporters say that they were from a freshwater system without direct contact to the sea. At least thats what a person from Germany reported who is very knowledgeable about shrimp. The person I bought them from had serratiostris, too. But those were way more expensive. So I am a bit confused

When I got them they were almost translucent and one could see the eggs still in the ovaria. They looked rather big and were only few.

Is there any sure way to tell, or will I have to wait for them to have eggs?

I guess you will have to wait for them to have eggs and see.

-Pedro

zwergkrebszuechter wrote:I ask because the exporters say that they were from a freshwater system without direct contact to the sea.

Most exporters are not the most reliable people to get information from. Most exporters don't even catch the shrimp themselves. They have locals working for them.

At least thats what a person from Germany reported who is very knowledgeable about shrimp.

Do me a favor and PM me the name of the person.

The person I bought them from had serratiostris, too. But those were way more expensive. So I am a bit confused.

Did you see what they were selling as "C. serratirostris?" This shrimp comes in many color variations, red, black, in between, with or without white stripes...big stripe down the back or many small stripes across. As the species has a very wide range in the indopacific region there are many, many different color variations...even in the same location and same population sometimes. I have seen people import various color variations of C. serratirostris and offer them for sale as completely different species...just because they didn't know. That might just be what's happening in your case.

When I got them they were almost translucent and one could see the eggs still in the ovaria. They looked rather big and were only few.

Are you sure about the egg size? C. serratirostris produces many small eggs and the larvae require saltwater.

Is there any sure way to tell, or will I have to wait for them to have eggs?

There is no sure way to tell...especially not from the picture. You could of course wait until one dies, put it under the microscope and compare it to the description of Caridina serratirostris in the literature. But if you wait for them to have eggs and they are large and few and you end up with a bunch fully developed young, then you can be pretty much sure that this shrimp is not Caridina serratirostris....but a *very* good "imitation." I doubt that's going to happen, but if it does happen against all odds then this shrimp would be even more valuable to the hobby than C. serratirostris as it would be relatively easily breedable. Keep us up to date with your shrimp.

I find these to be one of the most interesting shrimp in the hobby because of their patterns and ability to change colors! Please post more picture when you get a chance. It is nice to see that some members are able to get these shrimp.

Hi Andy!

Definitely Caridina serratirostris, confirmed by a microscopical examination. I bought some of this from Edwin de Jong too.

Cheers
Werner