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Red Wine shrimp are the deep wine-red color form of the Taiwan Bee line - solid burgundy body with white head. One of the most striking Caridina color forms. Same demanding parameters as Blue Bolt and other Taiwan Bee varieties. Less common in US trade than Blue Bolt.
Native range: Selectively bred in Taiwan. Aquarium specimens enter the trade primarily through captive-bred sources - selective breeding programs in Taiwan, Germany, the United States, and Indonesia produce the color-line specimens you find at LFS and online vendors. Wild-caught stock of any shrimp species is increasingly rare and often less hardy than captive-bred lines.
Tank size: 10 gallons is the practical minimum. Shrimp bioload is low - colonies of 50+ adults thrive in 10-gallon tanks with adequate biofilm and filtration. Water parameters: pH 5.5-6.5, temperature 68-75°F, hardness 0-4 dGH, 0-2 dKH. Filtration should be sponge-filter or matten-filter based to prevent shrimp and shrimplets from being sucked into intakes. Avoid HOB filters with strong suction unless modified with sponge pre-filters.
Substrate: depends on species. Neocaridina tolerate any inert substrate (gravel, sand, or planted aquarium soil). Caridina (CRS, Taiwan Bee) require active substrate (ADA Amazonia, Fluval Stratum) that buffers pH down to 5.5-6.8 and maintains soft water. Sulawesi shrimp require buffered alkaline substrate or crushed coral additives.
Plants: Java moss, Christmas moss, Subwassertang, and other fine-leaved species are essential - they provide grazing surface area for biofilm (the primary shrimp food) and cover for shrimplets. Heavy planting dramatically improves colony health and breeding rates.
Taiwan Bee Red Wine Shrimps eat biofilm continuously and supplement with periodic protein/algae feedings. Primary diet: Specialty Caridina food. Feed sparingly - shrimp can survive on biofilm alone in mature tanks for weeks. Over-feeding is the primary cause of water quality problems in shrimp tanks. Best feeding practice: small amount once every 2-3 days, removed within 2-4 hours if uneaten.
Supplemental foods worth rotating: Indian almond leaf (for tannins + grazing surface), mulberry leaf, blanched spinach/zucchini/cucumber (small pieces, removed after 24 hours), snowflake food, mineral stones (Montmorillonite clay), and species-specific commercial foods like Bacter AE, Shrimp Cuisine, or Borneo Wild biofilm enhancers.
Safe: Other Taiwan Bee varieties.
Avoid: Any fish, any non-Taiwan Bee shrimp in mixed-display.
Adult shrimp can defend against most very small fish, but shrimplets (newly-hatched, sub-3mm) are essentially defenseless and will be eaten by anything fish-shaped. Species-only tanks produce the most prolific colonies; community tanks with fish work but reduce shrimplet survival rate significantly.
Demanding. Same parameters as Blue Bolt. Breeding triggers across most shrimp species: stable parameters, biofilm-rich environment, varied diet, moderate temperatures (slightly warmer than maintenance temperature often triggers breeding cycles). Female shrimp signal readiness by carrying eggs under the tail (called "berried" - eggs visible as a clutch of small spheres). Male shrimp pursue females immediately after molting.
KH creep; parameter instability; cross-breeding with other Taiwan Bee.
Different species entirely. Red Wine is Caridina cantonensis with demanding parameters; Cherry is Neocaridina davidi with beginner-friendly care.
US specialty Caridina breeders. Less common than CRS/Blue Bolt. Expect to wait or special-order.
Yes - the Taiwan Bee line is generally more parameter-sensitive than standard Crystal lines.
Color intensifies through 3-4 months as shrimp mature. Color quality is influenced by diet and water tannins.
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