As shrimp breeders and keepers, we are interested in finding a way to make the shrimp colors stand out against the décor of our aquarium. For the shrimps to appear as the tiny creatures that they are sometimes, and for the shrimp color genes to be ideal for breeding, other times.
Well! A brief introduction to the coloring of shrimp. No matter if it is a Sulawesi, Neocaridina, or Caridina shrimp. Tiny pigments on their shells give them all their color. The pigmentation is passed down to succeeding generations once it has been established.
Since this process involves DNA, a shrimp's genes and hereditary factors have a significant impact. For instance, cross-breeding shrimps may alter the pattern of color. And the reason for this is that some genes were combined while breeding.
Keeping it straightforward! The listed species of shrimp all behave differently.
To remember:
According to the Sulawesi shrimp's law of the fittest, the stronger breed and color will predominate; as a result, future generations will tend to favor that color.
Due to their propensity for sharing, Caridina shrimp can produce new species and color patterns when, for example, tiger shrimp and bee shrimp are combined.
Neocaridina shrimp tend to return to their origins when combining colors and acting like their ancestors did. The pigmentation may result in new color patterns, but when combined with other colors, it cancels out and turns transparent again.
The purpose of this article is to talk about, helping a shrimp coloration and not about shrimp genetics, to read more about genetics you can follow this link.
A Genetic Resource for Shrimp Breeding and Conservation
https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/a-genetic-resource-for-shrimp-breeding-and-conservation-353610
So! The big question is what other than genetics affects the shrimp coloration in our aquariums?
Shrimp pigment is influenced by stress factors, water quality, and feed quality. Additionally, shrimp color is influenced by environmental elements like light regime, substrate, and background color.
Stress Factor: Dwarf shrimp under stress may momentarily lose their color. Because of this, hiding spots or caves in the aquarium can also influence how intensely coloured your shrimp will be. Shrimp are also very social creatures. If they are not kept in groups where they can show off their coloration they will never reach their full potential for color intensity.
Water Quality: Also affects shrimp stress and health, so water parameters such as Temperature, pH, kH, gH and TDS highly impacts the shrimp health and the shrimp process in developing proper coloration pigments.
Feed Quality: Shrimp are provided with an abundant source of vitamins and nutrients in the wild. However some wild shrimps you might find are dull and have faded colors. This is an indication that the environment is good for a healthy shrimp colony, but it lacks the proper nutrients for coloration.
Nutrients: The main group of elements that helps in color pigment generation in shrimps is Astaxanthin, a member of the carotenoid family. The yellow, orange, and red colors of many shrimp are caused by these chemical compounds of carotenes, and when they are chemically bound to proteins, they can increase the wavelength of their reflection to produce blue, green, brown, black, or violet colors.
We can therefore sum up for now by saying that a nearly flawless and consistent water quality is essential. obtaining a species with good genes at first. Additionally, it's crucial to give them the supplements they require that are carefully formulated and balanced for coloration purposes.
Additionally, it has been observed that factors like plants, algae, lighting, substrate, and decorations in a shrimp tank can affect shrimp coloration. Although there has been some disagreement about this among shrimp breeders, some of it is still true.
If you think about it differently, wild-caught shrimps are typically muddy in color, occasionally pallid, and occasionally transparent. Additionally, since shrimp pass on their defense mechanism to succeeding generations, They may try to disguise themselves from predators by doing this, which may sound strange. For shrimp, camouflage is thought to be the main mechanism of habitat and background adaptation, making the animal cryptic to potential predators.
Breeders removed this defense mechanism from shrimp by breeding them in aquariums and in captivity. They changed to red, blue, yellow, etc. hues. Shrimp, on the other hand, react instinctively by enhancing the color they already have. Scientists found that shrimp kept in black and red gravel had higher levels of total carotenoids (astaxanthin) than shrimp kept in white gravel.
Hence why, one of the reasons you see a lot of shrimp keepers using, Crushed Lava, Aqua Soil and Akadama soil in shrimp tanks.
Lighting and exposure to light may directly affect the pigment color of shrimp, in contrast to the substrate color, aquarium decorations, and plants, which may have a slight indirect effect on shrimp coloration. Researchers tested this hypothesis in a study and found that variations in reflected light can affect shrimp coloration. In contrast to the white background, the red background made the shrimp's red coloration appear more intense. To summarize the scientific part, it was found that either red-emitting light or white lights with red filters could produce the same outcome.
The characteristic that defines a shrimp's trade value is intense color. Shrimp that are poorly coloured are priced lower because color is a key factor in the price tag.
Consequently, aquarists typically prefer selective breeding of vividly coloured morphs over collecting wild specimens.
Although many factors are known to have an impact on shrimp coloration. It can also be improved by using straightforward techniques.
Give out enough dietary supplements.
Give organic powder to your shrimp.
In the substrate of your shrimp tank, use darkness.
Let them get old.
Maintain good water quality for them.
Don't let them feel anxious.
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