Larviculture of Red Front Shrimp, Caridina gracilirostris (Atyidae, Decapoda)

Aquatic ornamental species trade is a growing multimillion dollar industry. Over the past several years, many freshwater shrimp have been growing in popularity in the aquarium industry. This study evaluated the larval culture of the popular aquarium red front shrimp, Caridina gracilirostris (Atyidae). We found that the optimal larval and postlarval rearing conditions were 15 ppt, 27 C, fed with a phytoplankton mixture (Phycopure), and at the stocking density of 25 per L. Under these conditions, the newly hatched larvae developed, through six zoeal stages, into postlarvae in 15 d, with a survivorship of 90 ± 8%. The postlarvae acclimated to freshwater when they reached 69 d posthatch.