The Blue Pearl was one of the earliest blue neocaridina variations, originating from South East Asia, this shrimp is commonly kept and bred in the hobby especially in Germany. It shares the same hardiness and fertility as its neocaridina heteropoda cousins, i.e. the Red Cherry Shrimp, and will interbreed readily with the other species. Blue Pearls used to be classified as neocaridina cf. zhangjiajiensis, but have been recently reclassified as neocaridina cf. palmata.
Specifications
- Scientific Name: Neocaridina cf. Palmata
- Common Name: Blue Pearl Shrimp
- Origin: China
- pH: 6.0-8.0
- Temp: 64-84°F
- TDS: 80-400
- KH: 0-10
- GH: 4-14
- Fertility: High
- Difficulty: Easy
Grading and Variations
Blue Pearls may be easily confused with Blue Shrimp (an all-blue Rili). It is difficult to distinguish the two. Most of the time, Blue Pearls will have yellow or brown eggs, and yellow or red eyes; whereas Blue Shrimp (Rili) will carry green or blue eggs, with black eyes. However, specific crossings and genetic expressions may vary.