IT'S CALLED A RED CRYSTAL

Common name | Crystal Red, CRS, Red Bee

Scientific name | Caridina sp. cantonensis var. Crystal Red

Zone of Origin | China - Japan

Size of adult | 2.5 ~ 3.5 cm

Ideal breeding temperatures | 20 ~ 25 °C

Water values | pH 6.5 ~ 7.0 - GH 4 ~ 6 - KH 2 ~ 4

The species | From the scientific name "Caridina sp. cantonensis" the Crystal Red is a selection that in the beginning did not present the current coloring to vertical bands red - white but, through selections and crossings of shrimps that presented this "anomalia", has arrived to reproduce and market the species. Black or very dark red eyes.

There are discordant theories about origin. Some enthusiasts and scholars consider Crystal Red and Crystal Black belonging to the same species: the first ones that derive directly from the latter. The only difference is that the Red Crystals have the dominant "red" gene and the "black" recessive gene while the Black Crystals present the dominant "black" and the "red" recessive: this type of theory would therefore allow breeding in common tank, without danger of hybridizations. Another theory is that both species are direct descendants of a mutation occurred in the Serrata group: crystal Red and Crystal Black are "sister" species. This second theory therefore does not recommend that we live the two species in order to avoid possible hybridizations.

With the passing of time the selections have become more and more intense until they arrive at fine selection lines and universally recognized. Of course we are talking about trade lines, certified and guaranteed. For example, we are talking about some lines of Crystal Red called "PRL" (Pure Red Line) which for patterns, colors and intensity of the latter are considered the top for any enthusiast.