BLUE BOLT SHRIMP
OVERVIEW:
Blue bolt shrimp (Caridina cantonensis) is a variety of Taiwan bee shrimp and they are considered by many to be some of the most colourful and attractive freshwater ornamentals. They have an unmistakable electric blue stripe that runs down their back, but in addition, they also sport a variety of colours on each side including reds, yellows, oranges and blues - all perfect for bringing colour into your aquarium!
Blue bolt shrimp is one of the most stunning and recognizable species you can keep in a freshwater aquarium. They come with an array of colours that will match any decor, as well as provide for cleaner environments by eating leftover food or algae off surfaces in your tank!
HABITAT:
The Blue bolt shrimp morph of Caridina cantonensis was artificially bred out. Wild Caridina cantonensis prefers shallow, slow- to fast-moving mountain streams and rivulets and is currently ranging from Nan’ao Island, Guangzhou, Yangjiang of Guangdong Province in southern China. In Hong Kong, there are no endangered species but they're still threatened by habitat destruction due to the fact that these environments are scarce or getting smaller as a result of urbanization.
APPEARANCE:
The blue bolt shrimp is one of the most colourful aquatic animals in existence. They have an intense deep-blue carapace that gradually transitions to the white colouration of their body, and their colours can range from light sky colour with varying translucency all the way up to vivid indigo. The bright, beautiful hues make them popular additions for any aquarium enthusiast's tank!
The colour blue is a sign of high-quality shrimp. Generally speaking, the more blue colour coverage on their body with better opacity means the higher grade it is and thus will be priced accordingly. However, if you see an all solid dark purple hue that covers over 90% or so of its entire body surface, then this would mean they are low quality because there are no changes in the shade for variation to occur as well as possible spots caused by poor care during cultivation process which could have been avoided had proper practices been implemented at each stage starting from when larvae were hatched until adulthood has taken place.
SIZE AND LIFE SPAN:
Blue bolts, as they're sometimes called, typically grow to be only one and a half inches long. They require an established aquarium set up with the proper living conditions in order for them to reproduce and live about 1.5-2 years on average.
BEHAVIOR:
When it comes to personality, they are a blue bolt of sunshine. These shrimp have no problem being the centre of attention and will spend their days waddling around during daylight hours for all to see. They can be quite tame so you won't need any other creatures or plants in your tank with them as they don't bother anybody either!
When faced with an evening alone at home that seems more lonely than relaxing, one might find themselves seeking out companionship - even if the said companion is only four inches tall and looks like a tiny lobster from behind. This should come as good news considering there's plenty of company available in the form of these little guys who enjoy nothing better than exploring every inch on offer while showing off their magnificent colours throughout.
Blue bolt shrimp are not territorial and they often live in groups. They rely on their social nature to encourage safety from predators like crabs, but this lack of hierarchy can make it difficult for them to reproduce.
In addition to being more sociable than other types of shrimps, blue bolt shrimp have a unique reproductive condition that might be the reason why so many members gather together: males cannot produce sperm until after they reach maturity while females do not stop producing eggs when mature - which means there is always an abundance of available mates ready for mating at any time! This allows these little guys some extra protection against those pesky crab bullies who may want nothing more than your juicy lunchtime meal.
FEEDING:
Feeding Blue bolt shrimp is easy. Like all freshwater dwarf shrimp, they are scavengers and omnivores. They will eat just about any food they manage to find in the tank-algae or biofilm that has settled on plants and rocks near their hiding places for example-and do not need a lot of feeding as long as there are plenty of algae around (which often occurs naturally). However, it does not mean that you should stop providing them with occasional feeds if you want your colony to thrive; even when enough algae float by from the filter system every now and then, these guys can still benefit from supplemental feedings which may include frozen foods like bloodworms too!
MOLTING BLUE BOLT SHRIMP:
As shrimp grow, they need to shed their shells in order to grow. The frequency of molting depends on the age of the shrimp and will occur every 4-6 weeks for fully grown individuals while juveniles may molt up once a week or two.
When molting, the shrimp will exhibit signs of decreased activity. They may be seen sitting on a rock or hiding in their shell with only their eyes peeking out for up to 24 hours at a time during this process. Once molted, it is important to leave the old shell on until your shrimp has a chance to eat all of its calcium. It is advised not to touch them as they are very vulnerable and could die from being disturbed!
CARING:
Keeping Blue bolt shrimp in an aquarium can be a little bit more complicated if you already do not have some experience. However, there are many ways to make the environment safe for them and even enjoyable for beginners. For example, they need at least 20 gallons of water per individual which means that it is very important to maintain their health by spot cleaning weekly or changing 30% of the tank's water monthly as well as feeding with nutrients high in Omega-3 fatty acids such as algae sheets!
Keeping blue bolt shrimp requires additional attention because this species has difficult care requirements--therefore they're usually not recommended for beginners. But those who take on these challenges will find themselves rewarded with amazing creatures whose colours change depending upon what food source is available.
TANK SIZE:
Blue bolt shrimp is a great choice for people who want to keep their marine tanks small. This species can be kept in containers as small as 5-gallon tanks (20 litres). However, it is difficult to maintain the proper balance when keeping them this way because they require low salinity levels and need plenty of hiding places due to their shyness. Those with new saltwater aquariums should plan on housing blue bolts in at least 10-gallons (40 litres) or larger if possible so that these needs will always be met!
BREEDING:
Once you have suitable water parameters in the tank, Blue bolt shrimp breed. When they are about 3 to 4 months old, females mature and release a certain chemical substance into the surrounding water which signals males that she is ready for mating. Male blue bolts swim around frantically trying to find her as this indicates she wants them too!
Once you get your tanks right with enough salt (or fresh) water - Blue Bolt Shrimp will start breeding They usually mate when they're between 2-4 years of age but sexual maturity can happen any time after their first molt at 1 year old. Females masturbate by molting before even meeting up with other male blue bolts who do two things: Swim back and forth until he finds their own
Blue bolt shrimp are known to be a hermaphrodite species. They can reproduce and mate with themselves, but in order for it to work successfully, you need at least one male per female blue bolt shrimp swimming around your aquarium tank!
It's important that people who have just started breeding Blue Bolt Shrimp keep the ratio of males/females as even as possible if they want their population to grow fast enough so they're not stuck having an unhappy bunch of shrimps on their hands or a worse yet-a dead one.
TANK MATE:
The Blue bolt shrimp is a peaceful creature that will be best suited in an environment with other fish, as long as those fishes are also quiet and gentle. Large or aggressive types should not be put into the same tank for fear of their safety.
