Caridina logemanni

About This Species

Basic Description

The Crystal Red Shrimp is a popular freshwater crustacean celebrated for its striking red and white striped coloration. A small invertebrate originating from Asia, it makes a fascinating addition to a dedicated aquarium, where it primarily inhabits the bottom levels. This shrimp is a diligent cleaner, constantly working to consume algae, decaying plant matter (detritus), and the thin layer of microorganisms known as biofilm. This natural foraging behavior helps keep the aquarium looking pristine. These are highly social and peaceful creatures that feel most secure and behave more naturally when kept in groups of six or more. While visually stunning, they are more sensitive than many other shrimp species and require a stable, well-maintained environment to flourish. They specifically need cooler water temperatures and soft, clean water conditions. Providing them with a balanced diet of specialized shrimp pellets, wafers, and occasional blanched vegetables will ensure they remain healthy throughout their two-year lifespan. Their gentle nature makes them excellent tank mates for other small, non-aggressive species.

Detailed Description

The Crystal Red Shrimp, scientifically known as *Caridina logemanni*, is a selectively bred dwarf shrimp from Asia, highly prized by aquarists for its intense coloration. Classified with a medium difficulty level, its successful husbandry hinges on maintaining specific and highly stable water parameters, which sets it apart from more hardy beginner shrimp. They require soft, slightly acidic freshwater with low TDS values and a controlled, cooler temperature range. Due to this sensitivity, they are best housed in a mature, dedicated shrimp-only tank where parameters can be meticulously managed without interference from other species. As omnivores, their diet in captivity should be diverse to supplement their natural foraging on biofilm, detritus, and algae. High-quality commercial foods and vegetables are essential. These bottom-dwelling crustaceans contribute minimally to the tank's bioload, thanks to their low metabolism and waste production. While they breed with moderate success in ideal conditions, raising the fragile young requires pristine water and a ready supply of microscopic food. Their social nature necessitates keeping them in colonies, which allows for natural grazing and social behaviors.

Scientific Description

*Caridina logemanni*, a decapod crustacean of the Atyidae family, is a freshwater species from Asia requiring precise environmental controls for captive maintenance. Its husbandry is considered moderately difficult due to a narrow tolerance for key water parameters. The species thrives in a low-flow aquatic environment with a specific temperature and pH range. Optimal water chemistry includes soft water and a total dissolved solids reading around 150. As a bottom-dwelling omnivore with a low metabolism and oxygen consumption rate, *C. logemanni* has a minimal impact on its environment's bioload, quantified by a factor of 0.2 and very low waste production. Its varied diet requires daily feeding to supplement natural foraging. Ecologically, it functions as a biofilm consumer and algae cleaner. Socially, it is a colonial animal, requiring a minimum school size of six individuals to display natural behaviors within its habitat. The species has a typical lifespan of two years, with breeding being of moderate difficulty under managed conditions. This species' dependency on stable, cool, soft, and slightly acidic conditions makes it a specialized subject for dedicated aquarists.